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1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

THE  HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


THE 


HISTORY 


OF 


LOUISIANA, 

FROM  THE  EARLIEST  PERIOD. 


BY  FRANCOIS-XAVIER  MARTIN 


H(sc  isitiir  formam  crescendo  mntdt,  et  ohm 
Immensi  caput  orbis  erit.     Sic  dicere  vates. 

Ovid.  Metam.  xv.  434  &  435. 


VOLUME  I. 


PRINTED  BY  LYMAN  AND  BBARD8LHE. 


1827. 


<' 


^'j' 


187853 


V^ 


fuitilern  P).ilnrt  of  Lowsinna,  js. 

Bk  ir   RK,MBMnE!tEi»,  Tlint  OD  the  Spventii  (lay  (.f  June,  in  the  year  ol 

ijur  Lord  One  TliKiisurnl  r.i^hf  Hiin<lrf>tl  iinii  Tvvpntv->rvrn.  and  dt'Hip  Inde- 
pfn.l.iic.eortlio  lliiUnl  Stiiir"  the  Fiitv-fi.-t,  ni  \.\(()IS-XA  VIKH  MAR- 
TIN, "t  tl»ft  s'i*''!  district,  hath  dp|)i)«it  d  in  tlio  Clerk'- dlficc  (or  t'l'  [)i-tnct 
Court  of  the  United  Sliitrs  lor  the  K.wtorii  I), strict  ol  LoMi'^inii.i,  the  title  ola 
boolf,  thf  •i;;ht  wherrof  he  chiinis  iis  I'roprirtor  iind  Pulih'-hi'i    to  inl — 

"Tlir  llistt>ry  of  LouisiHiui,  from  the  oarliest  period,  liy  Fran«juis-Xavici 
Martin, 

Hoir  ti^llur  formnin  rrrscendn  nvi.lnt.  ft  olim 

Imineiisi  raput  i  rbis  iril     Sic  liirerr  vale  , 
Ovid.  Mel.im.  xv.  431  U.  4J5." 

In  conformity  to  nn  act  of  Congrrrss  of  thr  llnitril  Slates,  entitlrd  "  An  Act 
ior  the  ciicourngetnent  of  learniniC,  by  sfciirinj^  the  co|iir«  of  M;)]),*.  Charts  and 
Books  to  the  Anihors  and  rroiii'lrtors  of  >iucli  copies  dnrini;  the  limes  therein 
mentioned  ;"  And  also,  lo  an  Act  entitleti  "  An  Act,  supplementary  lo  an  Act, 
entitled,  an  Act  for  tlie  encoiira<j;eni''nt  of  liarnina:,  by  sccurin;;  the  copies  of 
map'^,  eliarl",  and  books,  to  the  authors  anil  proprietors  ol  such  copies.  lUiring 
the  tim:>s  therein  mentioned,  and  extending  the  benefits  thereol  to  the  arts  ol 
lesi^uiug:,  engraving,  and  etching;,  historical  and  other  iHint"."' 

W.  F.  LEA,  Di'T.  Ci.EitK,  U.  S.  Court. 

Kaslern  District  of  Louisiana. 


nn,  V 

exf'li 

Isiimi 
rraii(| 
>ol  fro(| 
pto  i\\v\ 

llpt  null 
|)''  ;ii(i 
exliibil 
for  tli< 
auglit 


I 


PUEFACE. 


TTIE  country,  cuvrrcd  l>y  the  state  of  l^ouism 
I  na,  wiH  within  «'»<•  wliort  span  ol'a  century  and  a  half. 
ex('lu'iv«'lj  occupied  hy  savages  and  wiUI  beasts.     A 
ku«»>»l<'<li^<'  of  the  means,  used  \ty  povidence.  in  sub- 
si  iiut  nig   to   these    the    vassals  of  the  monarchs  of 
Trance  and  Spain,  and  finally  to  the  latter,  the  race 
of  freemen  hy  whom  the  state  is  rapidly  to  be  brought 
jito  the  acme  of  political  lelicity,  cannot  be  a  matter 
pf  indilTerence  to  any  contemplative  mind,  and  must 
;^e  ardently  sought  after  by  her  youthfiil  citizens.  To 
<lxhibil  those  means  to  them,  is  the  object  of  this  work; 
for  the  writei'  had  not  the  vanity  to  believe  he  had 
aught  to  impart  tn  thohio  nCmntnro  yenrs 
t. 

What  theme,  indeed,  can  be  more  interesting  to 

a  young  Louisianian,  than  the  contemplation  of  his 

Ipore  remote  progenitors,  a  handful  of  nicn,  left  on 

Ipie  sandy  shore  oi'Biloxi,  harrassed         ing  the  day 

!y  the  inroads,  disturbed  at  night  by  th.  yells,  of  ho- 
ering  Indians — to  mark  the  incipient  slate  of  civil 
overnment,  under  the  authority  of  the  crown,  the 
ardy  progress  of  agriculture  and  trade,  under  the  mo- 
iiopolies  of  Crozat   ajid  the  western  company,  the 


n 


I'llKIACL. 


massacre  oi'thi'  French  among  the  Natchez,  the  des- 
truction of  that  nation  and  the  suhHe(ju<!nt  war  with 
the  Chickasaw's — to  notice  tfie  slow  advances  of  the 
colony,  after  fhe  crown  resumed  its  «rovernment,  tlie 
cession  to  Spain  and  the  languishing  state  ol'  his  coun- 
try, while  a  colony  of  that  kingdom — id'terwards  to 
behold  the  dawn  ofliherty  on  his  natal  soil,  under  the 
territorial  govertaneni  of  the  United  States,  and  thial- 
ly,  the  rise  ol'Louisianato  the  rank  ofasovercignstate! 

A  VERY  jejune  performance  would  have  been  pro- 
duced, if  the  work  had  been  co^ifined  to  events,  of 
which  the  tract  of  country,  now  occupied  by  the  state, 
was  the  theatre.  The  discovery  of  the  northeast  shore 
of  the  gulf  of  Mexico,  the  traverse  ol' Florida  by  a 
Spanish  army  under  Soto,  and  the  abortive  attempt 
of  the  French  at  colonization  in  Caroline,  are  event** 
too  intimately  connected  with  the  history  of  Louisia- 
na to  have  remained  unnoticed. 

MirrH  vvnidd  hnvf  hopn  Ipff  to  hr  desired,  if  tjie 

work  had  abruptly  begun  at  the  landing  of  the  colo- 
nists, brought  over  by  Iberville.  The  settlement  of 
Canada,  through  which  the  French  discovered  the 
Mississippi,  the  descent  of  that  stream  by  Lasalle, 
his  fruitless  efTorts  to  plant  a  colony  on  its  shores,  are 
also  events  the  knowledge  of  which  is  necessary  to 
a  correct  understanding  of  those  which  followed,  in 
Louisiana. 

It  has  likewise  been  thouglit  proper  to  notice,  in 


the  (Ics- 
war  with 
es  of  the 
nciit,  the 
his  coun- 
Avards  to 
jnder  the 
aiul  tiiial- 
■ign  state! 

ho.en  pro- 
events,  oi* 
/  the  state, 
east  shore 
orida  hy  a 
e  attempt 
are  eveiitip 
ofLouisia- 


ired,  if  the 
)f  the  colo- 
ttlement  oi 
overed  the 
by  Lasalle, 
shores,  are 
ecessary  to 
bllowed,  ill 


to  notice,  id 


I'KKFVCi:. 


vn 


a  chroiioh)|2;ieal  order,  (he  settU^nu-nt  of  each  of  the 
Kri^hsli  proviiiees.  which  afterwards  formed  the  con- 
federacy of  North  America,  with  that  of  the  coU)nies 
which  the  Dutch  and  Swcch^s  planted  in  their  neigh- 
bourhood. 

The  attention  of  the  reader  has,  at  times,  neces- 
sarily been  drawn  to  transactions  on  the  opposite  side 
of  tlie  Atlantic.  A  colony  is  always  more  or  less  af- 
fected hy  the  wars,  in  which  the  mother  country  is 
engaged.  xAccordingly,  hostilities  hetween  France, 
Spain  and  England,  with  the  treaties  hy  which  they 
were  terminated,  have  been  related  :  and  for  a  reason 
nearly  similar,  the  mutations  of  the  crown  in  thes^ 
kingdoms  are  stated. 

The  writer  has  availed  himself  of  every  publi- 
cation of  merit,  that  has  auy  relation  to  the  country 
the  history  of  which  he  now  presents,  ami  hi;  has 
found  in  the  archives  of  the  state  many  important  do- 
cuments. 

He  has  to  lament  that,  although  for  almost  a 
score  of  years,  his  attention  has  been  given  to  the 
collection  of  materials,  public  duties  have  prevented 
his  bestowing  much  time  on  the  revision  and  correc- 
tion of  what  he  has  written.  Age  has  crept  on  him,  and 
the  decay  of  his  constitution  has  given  more  than  one 
warning,  that  if  the  sheets  now  committed  to  the  press 
were  longer  withholden,  the  work  would  probably  be 
'»  posthumous  one.  . 


£ 


nil 


FRKFACK. 


\ 


As  he  does  not  write  in  his  vernacular  tongue, 
ciegtincc  of  style  is  beyond  his  hope,  and  consequent- 
ly without  the  scope  of  his  ambition. 

GsKTitLY,  ntarNtv)  Orltant,  JuntUOth,  1827. 


1 


T 


fiy 


jular  tongue, 
consequent- 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


PREUMINARY  CHAPTER, 
A  Topographical  view  of  the  State  of  Louitiana,  p.  xzv. 

CHAPTER  I. 

Discovery  of  America,  Charles  VIII.  Henry  VII. 
Ferdinand  and  Isabella.  Cabot.  Prima  vista. 
Lewis  XII.  Denjs.  Aubert.  Gulf  of  St.  Law- 
rence. Indians  carried  to  France.  Henry  VIII. 
Francis  I.  Ponce  de  Leon.  Florida.  The  Ba- 
ron de  Levy.  Sable  Island.  Vasques  de  Aillon. 
Velasquez.  Veranzany.  Narvaez.  Apalachians. 
The  peace  of  Cambray.  Cartier.  River  of  St. 
Lawrence.  Hernandez  de  Soto.  Chickasaws. 
Alabamas.  Mobilians.  Choctaws.  The  Missis, 
sippi.  Red  River.  Robertval.  Canada.  Luis 
de  Muscoso.  Los  Vaqueros.  Edward  VI.  Hen- 
ry II.  Mary.  Philip  fl.  Elizabeth.  Charles  IX. 
Coliffny.  Riband.  Caroline.  Albert.  Barr6. 
Lauaoniere.  Sir  John  Hawkins.  Pedro  de  Me. 
nendez.  St.  Augustine.  Destruction  of  the  French 
Colony.  De  Gourgues.  Henry  III.  Sir  Humph- 
rey Gilbert.  Sir  Walter  Raleigh.  Ocracock. 
Virginia.  Sir  Richard  Grenville.  De  la  Roche. 
Acadia.  p.  1 

CHAPTER  II. 

The  Bourbons.  Henry  IV.  Philip  III.  Pontgrave 
and  Chauvin.  Trois  rivieres.  Gosnold.  Cape 
Cod.      James  I.      Commandeur   de'  la  Chatte. 


TABLK    Ol- 


r 


\\ 


Chatnplniii.  Hochelaga.  Dnmoiilz.  Acadie. 
Port  Kossi^nol.  Port  Moiiton.  Penobscot.  Pen- 
tagopt.  Port  Ro^al.  Poutrincourt.  Earls  of 
SotilhamptoM  and  Arundel.  Captain  We^rnonth. 
Ill  success  of  a  colony  sent  to  Acadie.  Pontgrave 
sails  witjj  the  colonists  for  France;  he  is  met  by 
Poutrincourt  and  returns.  The  Marchioness  of  Gu- 
ercheville.  .Iiunes'  patents  to  the  northern  and 
southern  companies.  Abortive  efTert  of  the  nortli 
ern.  First  attempt  oi'the  southern.  James  Town. 
Quebec.  Expedition  against  the  Iroquois  Hen- 
ry Hudson.  Chauvirt.  New  France.  Prosperous 
state  of  the  colony.  .Second  expedition  against  the 
Iroijuois.  Louis  XIH.  Jesuits  sent  to  Acadie. 
Lake  Champlain.  Nova  Belgica.  New  Amster- 
dam. Lasausaie.  Acadie.  La  Heve.  Port  Roy- 
al. Becancourt.  St.  Sauveur.  Argal  drives  the 
French  from  Acadie.  The  Earl  of  Soissons. 
Prince  of  Condc.  Montreal.  Company  of  St.  Ma- 
loes.  New  England.  Third  expedition  against 
the  Iroquois.  They  murder  tliree  Frenchmen,  and 
plot  the  destruction  of  the  colony.  P»other  Paci- 
fic. Marshal  of  Montmorency.  New  Plymouth. 
Philip  IV.  Sir  Williiun  Alf'xandor.  First  irrup. 
tion  of  the  liocpiois.  William  and  Edward  do 
Caen.  Fort  of  Q  "cbec.  Jesuits  sent  to  Canada. 
Charles  I.  Swedish  colony.  Company  of  New 
France.  Kertz.  Capture  of  a  French  fleet.  Fa- 
mine and  dissentions.  "^Ihe  capture  of  Quebec- 
Sir  Robert  Heath.  Carolana.  New  Hampshire. 
Peace  of  St.  Germain.  Canada  and  Acadie  resto- 
red, p.  31 
CHAPTER  III. 


Emery   de    Caen.      Maryland.     Acadie.     Comman. 
deur  de  Razilly.   New  Hampshire.   Maine.  Rhode 


CONTENTS. 


XI 


Acadie. 

t.    Pen- 

^arls  of 

ymoiith. 

nlgrave 

met  by 

ks  of  Gu- 

i'vu  and 

('  north 

s  Town. 

Hen- 

•f^perous 

linst  the 

Acadie. 

Amster- 

ort  Roy. 

ives  the 

•oissons. 

rStJVJa- 

against 

len,  and 

or  Paci- 

ymouth. 

t  irrup. 

a  rd    de 

'anada. 

of  New 

Fa 

iurbec- 

pshire. 

e  resto- 

1.  31 


)mman- 
Rhode 


Island  and  Providence  plantations.     Connecticut. 
College  of  Quebec.     Moutmagiiy.     The  Dutchess 
ofAiguillon.     Ursuline  iXuiis.     Sisters?  of  the  Con- 
gregatiorj.     Fort   Richelieu.     Louis  XIV.     Union 
of  the  New  Enorland  colonies.     Their  treaty  with 
Acadie.     D'Aillebout.     Ofler  of  a  treaty  to  Cana- 
da.    Oliver  Cromwell.      Commissioners    of  New 
England.       Indians.       Missionaries    among    them. 
Godefroy  and  Dreuillettes  sent  to  Boston.    L)e  Lau- 
son.     Irruption  of  the  Iroquois.     Swedish  colony 
abandoned.    D'Argenson.     Bishop  of  Petrea.      Vi- 
cargeneral.     Seminary  of  Montreal.     The  English 
from  Virginia  discover  the  Ohio.     Charles  11.  pro- 
claimed in    Virginia.     Irruptions  of  the   Iroqnois 
near  Quebec,    Epidemic.    Meteors.    D\Avaug()ur. 
Dissentions  among  the  chiefs.  Sale  of  ardent  spirits 
to   the   Indians.     Earthquake.     Vision   of  a   nun. 
The  charter  of  the  company  ol  New  France  surren- 
dered.'   De  Gaudais.     Superior  and  inferior  courts 
ofjustice.   Grant  to  the  Duke  of  York.    The  Dutch 
driven  from   New  Belgica.     New  York.     Albany. 
New  Jersey.     Fresh  dissentions  among  the  chiefs. 
DeConrtrellos.  DcTruoy.  VicfMoy  of  New  France. 
Regiment    of  Carignan  Salieres.     New   colonists. 
Horses,  oxen  and  sheep  brought  irom  France  to 
Canada.     Fort  Sorel.      Fort  St.  Tlieresa.      Expe- 
dition against  the  Iroquois.      Another  earthquake. 
Carolina.     Charles  II.  of  Spain.     West  India  Com- 
pany. Quebec  erected  into  a  Bishop's  See.  French 
and  English   Plenipotentiaries   in   Boston.     Fron- 
tenac.    Fort  at  Catarocoui.     Salem.     Father  Mar- 
quette.   Joliet.     Lake  Michigan.     Outagami  river. 
Ouisconsing.      Mississippi.      Illinois.      Missouris. 
Arkansas.     Great  rejoicings  in  Quebec  on  the  dis- 
covery of  the  Mississsippi.  59 


iff- 

'  i 


xu 


TABLE    OF 

CHAPTER  IV. 


li 


The  French  are  driven  from  Acadie.     Complaints  oi 
the  Canadians  against  their  Governor.     The  Abbe 
de  Fenelon.     Sale  of  spirituous  liquors  lo  the  In- 
dians.    Representations  of  the  Clergy.    Tlje  Arch- 
bishop of  Paris  and  Father  de  la  Chuise       Lasalle 
proposes  to  explore  the  course  of  the  Mississippi. 
He  goes  to  France.     The  Prince  of  Conti.      Ihe 
Chevalier deTonti       I^asalle  returns.     FortFron- 
tenac.     Adveturers  from  New  England  cross  the 
Mississippi  and  visit  New  Mexico.     Lakes  Ontario, 
Erie,  Huron    and   Michigan.     Little  Miami  river. 
Illinois.      Lasalle's   men  endeavour  to  indispose 
the  Illinois  against   him.      He  defeats  their  plan. 
The  intrigue  of  a  Mascoutan  Indian.      Attempt   to 
poison  Lasalle.      Arkansas.     Dacan.     Hennepin. 
Mississippi.     Falls  of  St.  Anthony.     Sioux.     Penn- 
sylvania.     Miamis.      Outagamis.     Ainous.     Mas- 
coutans.     Fort  Crevecoeur.     Irruptions  of  tlie  Iro- 
quois iiilo  the  country  of  the  Illinois.     Acadie  res- 
tored to  the  French.     Fort  Penkuit.     Chicagou. 
Illinois.      Mississippi  river.      TheMiami.     Chicka- 
saws.       Fort  Prudhomme.     Cappas.        Arkansas. 
Alligators.      Tanisas.     Red  River.      Quiuipissas. 
Tangipaos.     Gulf  ot  Wiexico.      Lasalle  takes  pos- 
session of  the  country,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Missis- 
sippi.    He  calls  the  river  St.  Louis,  and  the  coun- 
try Louisiana.     He  is  visited  by  Indians  from  seve- 
ral tribes.     He  returns.     His  party  is  attacked  by 
the  Quinipissas,  who  are  routed.     The  Natchez. 
Taensas.     Arkansas.     Chickasaw  Bluffs.     Lasalle 
is  detained  tliere  by  sickness.     The  Chevalier  de 
Tonti  proceeds  with  part  of  the  men.      Thc^y  meet 
at  Michillimackinac.     The  Chevaher  goes  to  Fort 
St.  i.ouis,  and  Lasalle  to  Quebec.     Count  de  Fron- 
t«Miac.     Lasalle  sails  for  France.  79 


CONTENTS, 

CHAPTER  V. 


Xlll 


plaints  oi 
rheAbbe 
to  the  In- 
rii€»  Arch- 
I.a8alle 
ississipoi. 
iiti.     The 
*^ort  F mil- 
cross  the 
s  Ontario, 
ami  river, 
indispose 
heir  plan, 
tteinpt   to 
Hennepin. 
X.     Peini- 
us.     Mas- 
Dt  the  Iro- 
cadie  res- 
Chicagou. 
Chicka- 
A  rkansas. 
jinipissas. 
kes  pos- 
je  Missis- 
he  coun- 
om  seve- 
acked  by 
Natchez. 
Lasalle 
valier  de 
hey  meet 
IS  to  Fort 
de  Fron- 
79 


.1 


Le  Febvre  de  la  Barre.    De  Meules.     Lasalle  ':ir- 
rives  in  France.     The  Marquis  of  Seignelai.      Ex- 
p  "lition  for  the  Mississippi.     Volunteers,  soldiers, 
colonists,  mechanics  and  priests.  The  fleet  weighs 
anchor.    Heanjeu.     Hispaniola.     Cuba.     Beaujeu 
misses  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  and  is  driven 
westwardly.      Bay    of  St.    Bernard.      Lasalle    at- 
tempts to  find  tlie  Mississippi    by   land.      Indians. 
One  of  the  vessels  is  cast  ashore.     James  II.     Com- 
merce of  Canada.     Champigny  de  iNorroy.     Card 
money.     Beaujeu  sails'for  France.     A  fort  built  at 
the  western  extremity  of  the  bay  of  St.   Bernard. 
Another  attempt  to  find    the    Mississippi.     Point 
Hurler.      An    establishment   commenced   on   the 
banks  of  Rio  Colorado,  or  Riviere  aux  vaches. 
The  fortifications  on  the  gulf  are  demolished,  and 
all  the  colonists  remove  to  Colorado,  where  they 
build  a  new  fort.      The  Chevalier  de  Tonti  des- 
cends the  Mississippi,  in  search  of  the  colonists. 
They  are  distressed  by  disease,  Indian  hostilities 
and    famine.       Lost  attempt  to6nd  the  Mississippi. 
Irruptions  of  the  Iroquois  in  Canada.      The  Mar- 
quis de  Denonville.     His  correspondence  with  the 
Governor  of  New  York.     Pasteboard  money.     La- 
salle loses  his  last  vessel,  and  sets  off'ior  the  Illi- 
nois.    Bulfaloes.      Biscatonge  Indians.     Chinono- 
as.    Rattle  Snake.    Cenis.     Nassonites.      Sickness 
and  return  of  Lassalle.     State  of  the  colony.     La- 
salle determines  to  return  to  France,  by  the  way 
of  Canada.      One  of  his  party  falls  sick,  is  sent 
back  and  killed  by  the  Indians.      Resentment  of 
his  brother.      The  party  stops  to  kill  Buffbloes, 
and   cure  the   meat.      Mutiny.      Lasalle  and  his" 
nephew  are  murdered.  Division  of  the  party.    The 


XIV 


TABLK    OF 


?'.[' 


^1 


murdrrers  quarrel  and  some  of  thorn  are  killed, 
the  others  seek  refii<^i?  amonij;  th<'  Indians.  La- 
salle's  brother,  Father  Athunase  and  live  others, 
reach  the  Arkansas.  Couture  and  Delauna)'.  La- 
salle's  brother  and  his  eomp.viiio..s  i(o  to  the  Illi- 
nois, and  from  tlienee  to  (Quebec,  and  embark  lor 
France.  103 

CHAP'l  ER  VI. 

The  English  excite  the  Iroquois  against  the  Indian 
allies  of  the  French.  Proposals  of  James  il.  to 
Louis  XIV.  lor  the  neutrality  of  their  American  <lo- 
minions.  Instructions  to  Denonville.  The  English 
attack  Iberville,  in  Hudson's  Bay,  and  he  rep^ds 
them.  Iroquois  Chiels  decoyed,  made  prisoners 
and  sent  to  the  gallies  at  Marseilles.  Vaudreuiileads 
the  Canadian  forces  against  the  Iroquois,  Corres- 
pondence between  Denonville  and  the  Governor 
of  New  York.  The  French  are  attacked  in  a  de- 
file. Good  conduct  of  their  red  allies  and  the 
militia.  The  Iroquois  are  routed,  one  of  their  vil- 
lages is  burnt  and  their  plantations  laid  waste. 
Denonville  marches  back  to  Niagara  and  builds  a 
fort.  Epidemic  disease.  The  Iroquois  ravage  the 
plantations  near  Fort  Frontenac.  They  sue  for, 
and  obtain  peace.  Population  of  Canada.  Abdi- 
cation of  James  II.  Wilham  and  iMary.  Distress 
of  the  Colony  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  Alonzo  de 
Leon  scours  the  country.  Province  of  Texas. 
Frontenac  returns  to  I'^ew  FranceT~* 'Commission- 
ers for  settling  the  boundaries  of  the  French  and 
E  iglish  Colonies  in  North  America.  Frontenac's 
instructions.  De  Calliere.  La  Caffiniere.  Pro- 
jected attack  of  New  York.  Irruptions  of  the  Iro- 
quois.    Declaration  of  War  between  France  and 


i 


CONTENTS. 


XV 


c  killed, 

IIS.     La- 
e  otiirrs, 

ay.     l^'^- 

)  tlie  llli- 

ibark  lor 

103 


ic  liuliau 
iiios  11.  to 
M-ican  do- 
le Entrlish 
he  repels 
prisoners 
[•euilleads 
Corres- 
Governor 
d  in  a  de- 
and  the 
their  vil- 
lid   waste, 
builds  a 
lavage  the 
sue  Ibr, 
Abdi- 
Distress 
lonzo  de 
If  Texas. 
imission- 
uch  and 
ntenac's 
e.     Pro- 
fthe  I  po- 
lice and 


Kngland.  Corlaer,  Sormentel  and  Kaskebe. 
IVIe<lal.  Fainiise.  Vaudreuil  takes  possession  of 
Acadie.  Du  l^\lais.  The  English  possess  thein- 
selvc^s  of  Hudson's  Bay.  Iberville  retakes  it  and 
winters  tlwro.  Scurvy.  Iberville  reduces  the 
Fort  o(  I'entagoet.  The  English  land  in  Acadie 
and  distre'^s  the  planters.  iberville''s  success  in 
New  Found  land.  The  Fort  in  Hudson's  Bay 
taken  by  the  English,  and  retaken  by  Iberville. 
Peace  olRiswick.     De  Calliere.  122 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Iberville's  oflTcrs  to  plant  a  French  colony  in  Louisi- 
ana are  accepted.  An  expedition  is  prepared,  sails 
from  La  Rochelle,  and  touches  at  Hispaniola.  An- 
dres de  la  Riolle.  Pensacola.  Massacre,  Horn, 
Ship,  Ctiandeleur  and  Cat  Islands.  A  settlement 
begun  on  Ship  island.  Bay  of  Pascagoula.  Biloxi 
and  Bayagoula  Indians.  Iberville  and  Bienville 
enter  and  ascend  the  Mississippi.  Fork  of  Cheti- 
machas.  Washas.  Plaquemines.  Bayou  Man- 
shac.  Oumas.  Point  Coupee.  Portage  de  la 
Croix.  Lakes  Maurepas  and  Pontchartrain.  Bay 
ofSt.  Louis.  A  fort  built  on  the  Bay  of  Biloxi. 
Iberville  leaves  Sauvolle  in  command  and  sails  for 
France.  Scotch  colony  at  Darien.  Sauvolle  sends 
a  small  vessel  to  Hispaniola  for  provisions.  Cola- 
pissas.  Chickasaws.  Missionaries  among  the 
Yazousand  Tunicas.  Mobile  and  Thome  Indians 
visit  Sauvolle.  English  Turn.  French  Protes- 
tants. Return  of  Iberville.  Boisbriant.  St. 
Denys.  Malton.  A  fort  built  on  the  Mississippi. 
The  Chevalier  de  Tonti.  The  Natchez  and  Ta- 
ensas.  St.  Come.  Rosalie.  Yatassees.  Pro- 
test of  the  Governor  of  Peiisacoia.      Washitas- 


IF 


i 

I'i 


Hi 


XVI 


CONTENTS. 


Red  River.  Iberville  sails  for  France.  Philip  V. 
War  ot"  the  Spanish  succpssion  St.  Peter  and 
Green  Rivers.  Fort  Thnilher.  Sagan.  Sanvolle 
dies.  Choctaws,Chickasaws  and  Alibamons.  Relnrn 
of  Iberville.  Head  Quarters  removed  to  Mobile. 
Dauphine  Island.  Iberville  departs  for  France. 
Queen  Ainie.  Declaration  of  War.  Irruption 
fromCanadii  into  Massachusetts  and  New  Hamp- 
shire. Attack  of  St.  Augustine.  Wabash.  Apa- 
lachian  Iridian.s.  Bienville  chastises  the  Alibamons. 
Recruits.  Grey  Sisters.  Fire  at  Biloxi.  Disease. 
Destruction  of  the  French  settlement  on  the  Wa- 
bash. Chickasaws  and  Choctaws.  Clierokees. 
Illinois.  Father  Gratiot.  Bayagoulas.  Hurons. 
Arkansas.  Iberville's  death.  Tunicas.  Taens.is. 
Attack  on  Pensacola.  Touaches.  Abikas.  Ali- 
bamons, Another  attack  on  Pensacola.  Irrup- 
tion from  Canada  into  Massachusetts.  General 
Nicholson.  De  Muys  and  Diron  D'Artaguette. 
The  English  take  Port  Royal  in  Acadie.  The  set- 
tlement on  Mobile  River  removed  higher  up.  The 
Chickasaws  attack  the  Choctaws.  Failure  of  the 
English  in  an  attempt  ajt^aiiist  Quebec  and  Montre- 
al. La  Ville  Voisin.  Anthony  Crozat.  Peace  of 
Utrecht.  139 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Charter.  Tjamotte  Cadillac,  Duclos,Lebas,  Dirigoin, 
Laloire  des  Ursins.  Superior  Council.  Arrange- 
ments with  Crozat.  His  plans.  Misunderstand- 
ing between  the  new  governor  and  Bienville.  In- 
dians. Card  money  of  Canada.  Part  of  the  Choc- 
taws drawn  to  the  British.  Fort  Toulouse.  St 
Denys.  George  I.  Lamotte  Cadillac  goes  to  the 
Illinois  in  search  of  a  silver  mine,  and  is  disappoin- 


I 


Philip  V. 

*etor   and 
Sauvolle 
IS.  Rfinrn 
o  Mobile, 
r  France. 
Irruption 
BW  Hainp- 
ish.     Apa- 
^libamoiis. 
Disease. 
[1  tlie   Wa- 
L'herokees. 
.     Hurons. 
Taenscis. 
ikas.      Ali- 
la.      Irrup- 
General 
Artaguette. 
.     The  set- 
r  up.     Tlie 
ilure  of  the 
lul  Montre- 
Peace  ot 
139 


^s,  Dirigoin, 

Arrange- 

inderstand- 

inville.     In- 

)f  the  Choc- 

ilouse.     St. 

roes  to  the 

disappoin- 


XIX 


CONTENTS.  ^y  of  the 

e  Gallo. 
ted.  The  Choctaws  are  prevailed  on  t  You- 
the  British  traders  from  their  villages,  jegroes, 
ere  of  the  Indians  in  South  Carolina.  Bien\  '  MWi- 
conciles  the  Choctaws.  Arrival  of  two  coro^yince. 
of  infantry.  Marigny  de  Mandeville.  fclpain. 
Rouzant.  Bienville  commandant  general  on  sjng 
Mississippi.  Ships  from  La  Rochelle  and  Martin- 
ico  not  allowed  to  trade.  Louis  XV.  The  Duke 
of  Orleans.  The  Cherokees  attack  the  French  on 
the  Wabash,  Bienville  goes  to  the  Mississippi. 
Has  a  conference  with  the  Chao'iachas.  Reaches 
Natcliez.  Is  informed  of  the  murderof  two  French- 
men, and  demands  the  head  of  a  sun.  An  Indian 
conseiits  to  die  in  his  room,  and  his  head  ts  brought 
to  Bienville,  who  refuses  to  receive  it.  The  same 
deceplioa  is  attempted,  with  as  little  success  on  the 
next  day.  Six  pirogues  from  the  Illinois  are  pre- 
vented from  tailing  into  the  hands  of  the  Indians. 
The  Natchez  kill  one  of  their  chiefs,  who  partici- 
pated in  the  murder.  Bienville  goes  to  their  vil- 
lage. He  builds  Fort  Rosalie,  and  leaves  a  garri- 
son in  it.  One  of  Crozat's  ships  arrives  at  Mobile. 
St.  Denys  returns  from  Mexico.  Re-establishment 
and  new  modelling  of  the  Supreme  Council.  Or- 
dinances relating  to  redemptioners  and  muskets. 
Delery,  Lafreniere  and  Beaulieu  go  on  a  trading 
journey  to  the  Spanish  provinces.  Dutisne  goes  with 
a  detachment  to  build  a  fort  at  Natchez.  L'Epi. 
nai  and  Hubert  and  three  companies  of  infantry 
arrive.  New  colonists.  Trefontaine,Gimel,Dubreuil 
and  Mossy.  The  bay  of  Ship  Island  is  stopped  up. 
Misunderstanding  between  Bienville  and  L'Epinai 
and  Hubert.  Crozat's  agents  make  a  last  but  un- 
successful attempt  to  trade  with  Vera  Cruz.  He 
surrenders  his  privilege.  107 


¥ 


Ill' 


XVI 


;  II 


I 


1  1 

1 ,. 


i! 


Red  I 
W 


TAI.LK    OF 


CHAPTER  IX. 


ar 


Ove^'  of  the  Western  Company.  Card  money  oT 
dies;i(|a.  Bienville,  Hubert  and  Boisbrianl.  New 
of  in.  Bay  of  St  Joseph.  New  Orleans.  Large 
J^dntsofLand.  New  Settlors.  Richbourg,  Grand- 
val.  Accession  of  population.  Laharpe.  Bizart. 
Desertion.  Spaniards  delcated  on  the  Missouri. 
L'Archambault.  St.  Denys.  Bay  of  St.  Bernard. 
San  Fernandes.  New  Philipines.  War  between 
France  and  P^ngland.  Pensacola  taken  and  re- 
taken. Dauphine  Island.  Champmoslin.  Pensa- 
cola taken  again.  Superior  Council  and  interior 
Tribunals.  A  Mineralogist  sent  to  the  Illinois. 
New  Biloxi.  Dustisne.  Deloehon.  Mine.  Union 
of  the  Western  and  Eastern  Companies.  Procla- 
mation fixing  tbe  price  of  goods  and  produce.  La- 
harpe. Chickasaw  hostilities.  Illinois.  Repeal 
of  the  edict  respecting  the  transportation  of  Con- 
victs to  Louisiana.  Plague.  Father  Laval.  Natch- 
itoches. Negroes.  Mines.  Choctaws  and  Ali- 
bamons.  Accession  of  population.  Beaumonoir. 
Bouteux.  Laloire.  Boispinel.  Bay  of  St.  Ber- 
nard. Head  Quarters  removed  to  New  Biloxi. 
Girls  from  the  Salpetriere.  Deserters.  German 
Settlers.  Bellisle.  Survey  of  the  passes  of  the 
Mississippi.  Guineaman.  Irruptions  ot  the  Span- 
iards from  Santa  Fe.  Marigny  de  Mandeville. 
D'Arensbourg.  German  passengers.  Failure  of 
Law.     Another  Guineaman.  198 

CHAPTER  X. 

Duvergicr.  Bernard  de  Laharpe.  Bay  of  St.  Ber- 
nard. De  Masilliere,  Dudemaine  and  Duplesne. 
A  Guineaman.     Principal  establishment  ordered 


iONTENTii. 


Xl\ 


monoy  oT 
i.'uit.  New 
tjs.  Large 
irg,  Graiid- 
e.  Bizart. 
p  Missouri, 
t.  Bernard, 
iir  between 
en  and  re- 
in. Pensa- 
nd  interior 
he  Illinois, 
le.  Union 
Procla- 
duoe.  La- 
s.  Repeal 
on  of  Con- 
al.  Natch- 
s  and  Ali- 
eaumonoir. 
of  St.  Ber- 
ew  Biloxi. 
German 
sses  of  the 

the  Span- 
landoville. 
Failure  of 
198 


>f  St.  Ber- 
Duplesne. 
it  ordered 


(o  be  removed  to  New  Orleans.  8urveyofthe 
river  of  the  Arkansas.  The  Manjuis  de  G.-dlo. 
Chickasaw  hostilities.  Father  Charlevoix.  Tou- 
louse Island.  Loubois.  Latour.  Price  of  negroes, 
tobacco  and  Uice  lixed.  Copper  coinage.  Mili- 
tary, civil  and  religious  divisioris  of  the  Province. 
Lurenaudiere.  German  Coast.  Peace  with  Spain. 
Pensacola  restored.  Chickasaw  hostilities  among 
the  Vazous.  Fort  on  the  Missouri.  Capuchins. 
A  hurricane.  Hostilities  committed  by  thc^  Natch- 
ez. An  unexpected  crop  of  rice.  The  Directors 
remove  to  New  Orleans.  A  Swiss  company  de- 
serlsto  Charleston.  Large  grants  of  land.  Indigo. 
St.  Joseph  abandoned.  Spanish  force  in  the  pro- 
vince ol  Texas.  The  Choctaws  defeat  the  Chick- 
asaws.  Alterations  in  the  value  of  coin.  Jesuits. 
The  Catholic,  the  only  religion  tolerated.  Expul- 
sion of  the  Jews.  Black  Code.  Edict  relating  to 
correspondence.  Edict  relating  to  horses  and  cat- 
tle. De  la  Chaise  and  Perrault.  Philip  V.  abdi- 
cates the  throne.  Louis  ascends  it  and  dies. 
Philip  resumes  the  crown.  Superior  Council. 
Treaties  with  the  Jesuits,  Capuchins  and  Ursuline 
Nuns.  Perrier.  George  II.  Girls  de  la  Cassette. 
Improvement  in  New  Orleans.     Land  regulations. 

236 
CHAPTER  XL 

The  Chickasaws  meditate  the  overthrow  of  the  colo- 
ny, they  engage  other  nations  in  the  plot.  The 
Choctaws  discover  it.  Perrier  sends  lor  some  of 
the  chiefs.  They  deceive  him.  He  represents 
the  helpless  condition  of  the  province.  His  repre- 
sentations are  disregarded.  The  Chickasaws  a- 
bandon  or  delay  their  plan.  Ill  conduct  of  Che- 
par,  at  the  Natchez.      They  determine  on  the 


r 


XX 


'i'AFiLE    or 


i?r 


,1 


■I 


k 


i 


I 


slaughter  of  the  French,  and  eiiqiJige  the  n^i<]^h- 
bouring tribes  in  the  plot.  A  fein.Hc  diistovt'iH  md 
discloses  it.  Boats  arrive  from  New  OrKvMis. 
Massacre  at  Fort  Rosahe  and  Fort  b\.  i'elor. 
Father  Doutresleaii.  P^Trier  sends  a  v('s>->  I  to 
France  and  two  up  the  Mississippi,  lie  despMicli- 
es  Courriers  to  the  lUinois  and  his  Indiaii  .^Uu-s. 
He  fortifies  New  Orleans  and  colh'cls  a  sinnH  to;  ^e. 
Apprehension  from  the  negroes,  l^oubois.  Mir-pU  'X. 
The  Natchez  make  propositions  of  peace,  t  'u  ir 
high  pretentions.  Lesueur  arrives  witli  Ww  t"}i(>i> 
taws.  They  cannot  be  restrained,  and  mak.-  a 
bold  cliarge  with  some  success.  The  armj  'ir!i\es; 
the  trenches  are  opened.  Loubois  is  coinpejied  to 
accept  the  propositions  of  the  Natchez.  i\i^  buil(fs 
a  Fort  and  returns.  The  Chickasaws  ailljrd  an 
asylum  to  the  Natchez  and  endeavour  to  gain  the 
Illinois.  FideHty  of  the  latter.  The  Chouachas. 
influenced  by  the  Chickasaws.  attempt  to  rise 
against  the  French.  The  negroes  are  employed 
to  destroy  them.^  Succour  from  I^  ranee.  Perriergoes 
to  Mobile.  His  call  on  the  Militia.  Some  of  the 
Natchez  cross  the  Mississippi.  Symptoms  of  in- 
surrection among  the  negroes.  Perrier  goes  with 
a  small  army  to  Black  river.  He  reaches  an  In- 
dian fort.  Opening  of  the  trenches.  A  parley. 
The  Great  Sun  and  two  other  chiels  come  and  are 
detained.  One  of  them  escapes.  Part  of  the  In- 
dians leave  the  Fort.  The  Wife  of  the  Great 
Sun  comes  to  the  camp.  Part  of  the  remaining  In- 
dians surrender;  the  rest  leave  the  Fort.  They 
are  pursued  and  some  prisoners  taken.  The  army 
returns  to  New  Orleans.  Four  hundred  prisoners 
shipped  to  Hispaniola.  Surrender  of  the  Compa- 
ny's Charter.     State  of  the  province.  244 


Sal 


4 


DVtMH  Hid 

VCS!^.  I  to 
:losj>;tvcli- 
11.  .(lh«*3. 
ii)!l  to:  re. 
Mir-|ij(  ix. 
"i  'K  ip 

}'  irtivos; 
I  polled  to 
[le  builds 
idluid  ail 
)  gain  the 
louachas. 
t  to  rise 
employed 
rrier  goes 
me  of  the 
ns  of  in- 
^oes  with 
es  an  Jn- 
V  parley. 
5  and  are 
of  the  In- 
le  Great 
ining  In- 
They 

he  army 
)risoners 

Compa- 
244 


CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XII. 


XXI 


Salmon  takes  possession    of  the  province  for  the 
king.     Property  of  the  company  purchased.     Re- 
demptioncrB  and  muskets.     Superior  council  re- 
organized.    The  Natchez  are  repulsed  at  Natchi- 
toches.     Negro    plot.       Exemption  from  duties. 
Military   peace   establishment.      Georgia  settled. 
War  in  Europe.     Bienville  re-appointed  governor. 
Troops.     Furloughs  and  grants  of  land.     Scarcity 
of  provisions.  Card  money.  Irruption  of  the  Natch- 
ez.    Bienville   prepares  to  march  against  them. 
Conspiracy  among  the   soldiers  at  Tombeckbee. 
Bienville's    unsuccessful   attack   on  a  fort  of  the 
Chickasawe.     The  Chevalier  d'Artaguette.    Span- 
ish hostilities  against  the  British  in  the  West  Indies. 
The  French  cabinet  approves  the  plan  of  a  new  ex- 
pedition against  the  Chickasaws.      Peace   in  Eu- 
rope.    The  garrison  of  St.  Augustine  reinforced. 
Bienville  at  the  head  of  the  colonial  force  ascends 
the  Mississippi.      Detachments  from  Canada  and 
the  Illinois.     Injudicious   delay.     Disease.     Fam- 
ine.   Celeron  marches  against  the  westernmost  fort 
of  the  Chickasaws.      They  sue  for  peace.     Bien- 
ville destroys  his  forts  and  the  army  returns.  Death 
of  Charles  VI.     Maria  Theresa.     War  in  Europe. 

291 
CHAPTER  XIII. 


The  Marquis  de  Vaudreuil. 
gia.  Nova  Scotia.  War 
Paper  securities.  The 
taken.  D'Anville's  fleet, 
ricane.  Dearth.  Relief 
seer  of  the  high  ways.  S 
er  Duvezin.     Civil  Regul 


Superior  Council.  Geor- 

Irruption  from  Canada. 

Island  of  Cape  Breton 

Ferdinand   VI.     Hur- 

from  the  Illinois.     Over- 

urveyor  General.     Olivi- 

ations.    Peace  of  Aix-la- 


111: 


XXII 


TAun:  or 


t'liiH>(;IU'.  K<^(leiii|)(ioiirrs  and  iimskntb.  Luiou- 
villiero.  Oliio  Compjiny.  f 'Otnplaiiit  oi  iho  Gover- 
nor (JenfMul,  of  Now  FiMiuT.  Quoin  of  troops  in 
Louisiana.  'VUr  culture  ol'  tobacco  cncoura^;c(l. 
Hritisfi  traders  amonj^  the  'r\vi<rt\vees  arrested.  ICx- 
emptions  of  duty.  Recruits  I'rom  France.  8iigar 
Cane.  MytleWax.  Irruption  of  the  Cliickasaws. 
Vaudreiiil  inarches  into  iheir  <:ountry.  A  lort  huilt 
on  French  creek,  (jovernor  l)inv\iddi(;.  Mftjor 
Washington.  Kerlerec.  Descloscauv.  .Jinnon- 
ville.  Villicrs.  Fort  Necessity.  lVlurd<  r  of  I  he 
Commandant  on  ('at  Island.  Reansejoiu".  'I  he, 
Acadian  Coast.  General  Braddock.  Fort  l)u- 
(|uesne.  Crown  Point  and  Niagara.  Declanttion 
of  War.  The  Karl  of  Loudoun.  The  Manpiis  de 
Montcalm.  Fort  Oswego  and  William  Henry 
taken  by  the  French  and  the  Island  of  Cape  Breton 
and  St.  John  by  the  British.  Fort  Frontenac. 
General  Forbes.  Fort  Duipiesne.  Fort  Massac. 
Barracks  in  New  Orleans.  Rochemore.  Diaz 
Arria.  Belot.  Marigny<leMandeville.  Lahoupe. 
Ticonderoga.  Crown  Point,  Niagara  and  Quebec 
taken.  Charles  III.  George  III.  Attakapas, 
Opelousas  and  Avoyelles.  Depreciated  paper. 
Unsuccessful  negociation  between  Great  Britain 
and  France.  The  family  compact.  Martinico, 
St.  Lucie,  Grenada  and  Havana  taken.  Treaty 
between  France  and  Spain.     Peace  of  Paris. 

311 
CHAPTER  XIV. 


:  ii 


Treaty  of  Paris.  East  and  West  Florida.  Gover- 
nor Johnson.  Pensacola.  Mobile  and  Fort  Tou- 
louse. Indian  allies  of  the  French.  D'Abadie. 
Major  Loftus.  Baton  Rouge.  Natchez.  Felici- 
ana.    Manshac.     Petit  Manshac.     The  king's  lei- 


s.  l^aiou- 
llhcGover- 
of  troops  ill 
!iic:oiir;igt'(I. 
rested.  Kx- 
ce.  Siigiir 
'liirkasaws. 

A  iort  built 
Wv.  Mftjor 
X.  Jnino?i- 
rdrr  of'  ilic 
jour.  'I  he 
Tort  l)u. 
IJeehiriitiiMi 
Munjnis  de 
jiin  Homy 
ape  Breton 

Krontetiac. 

art  Massac. 

lore.     Diaz 

Lahoupe. 

nd  Quebec 

Altakapas, 

od    paper. 

at  Britain 

Martinico, 
Treaty 

aris. 
311 


I 


CONTKNTb. 


XXUl 


ter.  Consternation  of  tlic  colonists.  General 
meeting/  Pul)lic  securities.  JeanMilhet.  Sugar 
planters.  Missentions  in  the  liritish  provinces. 
Anbry.  l*irat<'«  in  the  West  India  seas.  Madame 
D(;snoyer.s.  Ulloa.  bitroduction  ol'  African  ne- 
groes. Cnnsiis.  P'ort  Bute.  A  Peruvian  lady. 
Spanish  1 1  oops.  New  forts.  Gr(?at  cold.  Gene- 
ral meeting.  Petition  to  the  f'ouncil.  Thoughts 
of  resistanc;e.  Aid  asked  from  Governor  Elliot. 
I)ecre(!  of  the  council,  Ulloa  embarks.  The 
cables  of"  the  ship  he  was  in  cut.  General  meeting. 
A  disputation  to  France.  Spanish  troops  destined 
for  Louisiana  arrive  at  tlie  Havana.  Urissa.  Ill 
success  of  the  deputation.  Edict  relating  to  paper 
securities.  Alternate  hopes  and  fears.  A  Spanish 
fleet  arrives  at  the  Balize.  O'Reilly's  message. 
Town  meeting.  A  deputation  is  sent.  The  fears 
of  the  inhabitants  subside.  The  Spanish  fleet 
reaches  New  Orleans.  O'Reilly  lands  and  takes 
possession.  34Q 


Gover- 
Fort  Tou- 
D'Abadie. 
3Z.  Felici- 
king's  lei- 


i\ 


i! 


iiil 


■  « ; 


I 


UIS'i'ORY 


OF 


a®wiiaiiH^^ 


M 


PRELIMINARY  CHAPTER. 
Topographical  view   of  the  State  of  Louisiaim. 


LOUrSL\NA,  admitted  into  the  confederacy  of  the 
United  States  of  America,  on  the  thirtieth  of  April, 
1812,  is  the  south  westernmost  state. 

It  lies  from  about  the  twenty-ninth  to  the  thirty- 
fourth  degree  of  north  latitude  and  between  the  eighty- 
ninth  and  ninety-fifth  degree  and  thirty  minutes  west 
longitude  from  Greenwich. 

Its  limits  are  fixed  in  the  preamble  of  its  constitu- 
tion, and  an  act  of  its  legislature  of  the  twelfth  of  Au- 
gust, 1812.  ; 

The  southern  limit  is  the  gulf  of  Mexico,  from  Pearl 
to  Sabine  river. 

The  western  separates  the  state,  and  the  United 
States,  from  the  Spanish  province  of  Texas.  It  be- 
gins on  the  gulf,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Sabine,  and  fol- 
lows a  line  drawn  along  the  middle  of  that  stream,  so 
as  to  include  all  islands  to  the  thirty-second  degree  of 
north  latitude  and  thence  due  north  to  the  thirty- 
third  degree. 

The  northern  separates  the  state,  on  the  western 
bank  of  the  Mississippi  from  the  territory  of  Arkan- 
sas, and  on  the  eastern  from  the  state  of  jMissif?sippi. 

D 


I! 


I  III  iM-'i->r-^n'i'^"" 


XXVI 


jhreliminarv 


i 


!i 


ill:, 


H.. 


Mli 


i 

■  H 


I 


The  line  begins  on  the  point  at  which  the  western 
limit  terminates,  and  runs  along  the  northern  part  of 
the  thirty-third  degree,  to  a  point  in  that  parallel,  in 
the  middle  of  the  Mississippi  river:  on  the  western 
side,  it  begins  at  a  point  in  the  middle  of  the  river 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  thirty-first  degree  and 
runs  on  that  parrallel  to  tlie  eastern  branch  of  Pearl 
river. 

The  eastern  separates,  in  its  whole  length,  the  states 
of  Louisiana  and  Mississippi.  It  is  a  line  drawn  in 
the  middle  of  the  Mississippi  river  between  the  two 
points,  already  mentioned,  and  another  drawn  from 
the  eastern  termination  of  the  north  boundary  on  Pearl 
river,  running  along  the  middle  of  that  stream  to  its 
mouth  in  the  estuary,  which  connects  lake  Pontchar- 
train  with  the  gulf. 

The  area,  within  these  limits,  is  asuperfice  of  about 
forty.eight  thousand  square  miles :  Louisiana  being, 
in  extent  equal  to  North  Carolina,  and  superior  to 
every  other  state  in  the  union,  except  Virginia,  Mis- 
souri, Georgia  and  Illinois. 

The  population  to  the  square  mile  is  three  persons: 
equal  to  that  of  Alabama  and  Indiana,  and  inferior  to 
that  of  every  other  state,  except  Illinois  and  Missouri, 

The  aggregate  population  is  of  one  hundred  and 
forty-six  thousand  persons:  inferior  to  those  of  every 
state  except  Alabama,  Rhode  Island,  Delaware,  Missis- 
sippi, Missouri  andllhnois:  considerably  below  the  one 
halfof  the  averaged  population  of  the  states,  which  is 
about  four  hundred  thousand. 

The  free  population  is  of  eighty  thousand  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty  three  persons;  of  which  seventy  thou- 
sand four  hundred  and  seventy-three  are  white,  and 
nine  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ten  coloured. 

Agriculture  employs  fifty  thousand  one  hundred 
and  sixty.eight,  and  manufactures  five  thousand  seven 


a 

Ti 


J 


le  western 
ern  part  of 
parallel,  in 
lie  western 
the  river 
egree  and 
ch  of  Pearl 

u  the  states 
e  drawn  in 
Jen  the  two 
Irawn  from 
iry  on  Pearl 
tream  to  its 
I  Pontchar- 

ce  of about 
iana  being, 
superior  to 
ginia,  Mis- 

e  persons: 
inferior  to 
Missouri, 
ndred  and 
se  of  every 
ire,  Missis, 
ow  the  one 
s,  which  is 

1  one  hun- 
enty  thou- 

hite,  and 

red. 

hundred 
and  seven 


CHAPTER. 


XXVH 


hundred  and  ninety-seven.     The  number  of  foreign- 
ers not  naturalised  is  three  thousand  and  sixty-two. 

Although  Louisiana  lies  between  the  twenty-eighth 
and  thirty-fourth  degrees  of  north  latitude,  its  tempe- 
rature widely  differs  from  that  of  the  countries,  lying 
between  the  same  parallels  in  the  old  world ;  the 
Cape  de  Verd  islands  and  the  southern  parts  of  Al- 
giers, Tripoli,  Tunis.  Morocco,  Egypt,  Arabia  Felix, 
Persia,  China  and  Japan. 

We  must  ascend  the  Mediterranean,  to  reach  a 
country  in  which  the  degree  of  cold,  which  is  felt  in 
Louisiana,  is  experienced,  and  descend  about  ten 
degrees  towards  the  equator  to  find  a  country  in 
which  the  heat  felt  in  Louisiana,  prevails, 

Cold  is  seldom  so  intense  in  the  city  of  Nice,  or 
Savoy,  nor  heat  greater  in  Havana,  than  in  New  Or- 
leans, which  lies  within  the  thirtieth  degree  of  north- 
ern latitude,  and  is  consequently  never  approached 
by  the  sun,  in  his  zenith,  nearer  than  six  degrees  and  a 
hall ;  for  the  variety  of  temperature,  observable  as  the 
result  of  other  circumstances  than  the  relative  pro- 
pinquity to  the  equinoctial  line,  is  no  where  more 
obvious  than  in  Louisiana.  In  New  Orleans,  during 
the  months  of  June,  July  and  August,  the  thermometer 
rises  to  the  ninety  .eighth  andeven  the  hundredth  de- 
gree of  Farenheit's  scale  ;  which  is  the  greatest  degree 
heat  of  the  hciman  body,  when  in  health.  In  winter 
it  sometimes  fails  to  seventeen:  and  Ulloa  relates  that 
he  has  seen  the  Mississippi  frozen,  before  New  Or- 
leans, for  several,  yards  from  the  shore.  The  varia- 
tions in  the  thermometer  are  frequent  and  sudden :  it 
falls  and  rises  within  a  few  hours,  from  ten  to  twenty- 
four  degress. 

Summer  is  the  longest  season :  it  continues  for  five 
months,  besides  many  hot  days  in  March  and  Aprils 


r 


■°— I""— ■'T^i{g'jr"n"-'T 


li 


lii 


mil 


■  i4 


li 

'  1  -: 


tiviii 


PRELIMINARY 


October  .ind  NovemV>cr.  In  June  and  July  heat  is 
diminislied,  by  eastern  breezes  and  abundant  rains; 
the  hottest  days  are  in  August.  In  this  month,  and 
the  first  part  of  September,  heat  is  less  supportable 
than  in  the  West  Indies,  i'rom  the  absence  of  the  eas- 
tern breeze. 

The  principal  causes  of  heat,  in  New  Orleans  and 
its  vicinity  are, the  equality  of  the  soil,  the  great  limber 
with  w^hich  the  ueiglibouring  country  is  covered,  and 
the  leebleness  of  the  wind,  which  does  not  allow  it  to 
penetrate  the  inhabited  parts  of  the  country:  add  to 
this,  the  distance  from  the  sea,  which  prevents  the 
wind,  that  reigns  there,  from  reaching  the  city,  in 
whicli  the  air  is  commotdy  still  during  the  hot  months. 
If  the  wind  comes  from  the  north,  it  reaches  New 
Orleans,  after  passing  over  a  vast  extent  of  plains  and 
woods,  loading  itself  with  their  hot  vapour. 

Heat,  intense  as  it  is,  does  not  seem  as  in  other 
countries,  to  concentrate  itself  in  the  earth  and  warm 
it  to  a  certain  depth ;  on  the  contrary,  the  Avater  of 
the  Mississippi,  taken  from  the  surface,  is  warm  and 
from  below,  cold.  This  demonstrates  that  the  heat, 
which  prevails  in  the  country,  does  not  penetrate  be- 
low, and  is  accidental,  generated  by  the  absence  of 
wind,  or  tlie  action  of  the  sun  on  woods,  marshes  and 
swamps. 

The  elfect  of  great  Keats  is  felt  in  a  manner  not 
common  elsewhere.  In  walking,after  thcwsettingof  the 
sun,  one  passes  suddenly  into  a  much  hotter  atmos. 
pliere,  than  that  w  Inch  preceded,  and  after  twenty  or 
thirty  steps,  the  cooler  air  is  felt :  as  if  the  country  was 
diviried  into  b^in  Is  or  zones  of  ditlerent  temperatures. 
In  the  space  of  an  hour,  three  or  four  of  these  sudden 
transitions  are  perceptible. 

This  is  not  easily  accounted  for.  It  results  proba- 
bly from  (he  burning  of  the  woods,  which  takes  place 


!ii: 


CHAPTER. 


XXIX 


uly  heat  is 
(lant  rains; 
lonth,  and 
upportable 
A'  tlie  eas- 

rlrans  and 
reat  limber 
)vered,  and 
t  allow  it  to 
ry :  add  to 
revents  the 
he  city,  in 
liot  months, 
iches  New 
f  plains  and 
r. 

as  in  other 
\i  and  warm 
le  water  of 

warm  and 
t  the  heat, 
netrate  be- 

absence  of 
arshes  and 

lanner  not 
Htingofthe 

ter  atmos. 

twenty  or 
Duntry  was 

peratures. 

se  sudden 

Its  proba- 
ikes  place 


after  gathering  the  crop,  and  is  one  of  the  ordinary 
causes  of  heat  in  the  air,  in  the  direction  of  the  fire. 
The  land  being  equal  in  quality  and  form,  it  cannot 
be  imagined  that  the  rays  of  the  sun  are  more  fixed  in 
one  spot,  than  another.  It  is  likely  that  some  ol 
the  columns  ot  air,  considered  horizontally,  remain 
unmoved  since  the  setting  of  the  sun,  and  thus  pre- 
serve the  heat  it  communicated;  while  others,  set  in 
motion  by  a  light  or  variable  wind,  lose  theirs.  These 
mutations  are  perceived  when  there  is  no  wind. 

In  the  fall,  which  is  the  most  pleasant  season  in 
Louisiana,  and  often  prolongs  itself  during  the  first 
winter  months,  the  sky  is  remarkably  serene  ;  especi- 
ally, when  the  wind  is  northerly.  In  October,  the 
thermometer  frequently  rises  to  the  seventy-eighth 
degree,  which  is  the  greatest  heat  in  Spain. 

In  a  country,  in  which  the  heat  of  summer  is  so 
great  and  so  long,  it  might  not  be  presumed  that  the 
cold  of  winter  should  be,  at  times,  so  severe  as  expe- 
rience shews.  Sharp  irosts  have  occurred  as  early 
as  Noveniber,  but  their  duration,  at  this  period,  is  ex- 
tremely short.  In  the  latter  part  of  December,  in  Ja. 
nuary  and  the  first  part  of  February,  the  mercury  has 
been  known  to  fall  many  degrees  below  the  freezing 
point.  But  cold  days  are  rare  in  Louisiana,  even  in 
winter.  In  this  season,  heat  succeeds  to  cold  with 
such  rapidity,  that  after  three  days  of  hard  frost,  as 
mtiny  generally  follow,  in  which  the  average  heat  of 
summer  prevails. 

Spring  is  an  extremely  short  season.  A  Louisiani- 
an  is  hardly  sensible  of  its  presence,  when  the  suffo- 
cating air  of  summer  is  felt,  for  a  while,  and  then  win- 
ter days  return. 

The  winds  are  generally  erratic  and  changeable, 
blowing  within  a  short  space  of  time,  from  every  point 


m 


antmm 


'XXX 


i>RELIMINART 


of  the  compass  without  regularity,  and  seldom  tw 
successive  days  from  any  one. 

In  July,  August  and  September,  there  are  frequent 
squalls,  with  much  rain,  thunder  and  lightning,  and 
sometimes  gales  of  wind  from  the  south  and  south 
west. 

From  the  middle  of  October  to  April,  the  northern 
wind  prevails  and  sometimes  blows  very  hard  :  when  it 
changes  to  the  eastward  or  southward,  it  is  common- 
ly attended  with  close  hazy  or  foggy  weather. 

In  April,  May  and  the  first  part  of  June,  sea  and 
land  breezes  prevail  and  refresh  the  air. 

The  south  and  southwest  winds  bring  rain  in  win. 
ter;  when  they  cease,  the  northwest  wind  prevails,  and 
cold  weather  begins.  When  it  continues,  and  its 
strength  increases,  it  infallibly  freezes.  When  the  wind 
passes  from  east  to  west,  without  stopping,  cold  is  nei- 
ther  great  nor  lasting;  for  the  wind  passes  promptly  to 
the  east  and  from  thence  to  south  and  southwest,  and 
the  rain  begins. 

The  north  and  northwest  winds  are  those  which 
bring  cold  and  hard  frost  in  winter,  and  a  suffocating 
heat  in  summer. 

The  cause  of  the  cold  they  bring  is  the  same  in  Lou- 
isiana, as  in  all  the  eastern  parts  of  North  America. 
The  immense  extent  of  country,  covered  with  snow 
over  which  they  pass,  probably  from  the  pole;  while, 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Atlantic,  the  continents  of 
Europe  and  Asia  end  in  the  seventy-fifth  degree  of 
latitude,  and  are  separated  from  the  pole,  by  a  vast 
expanse  of  sea.  But  there  cannot  be  any  other  cause 
of  the  heat  they  bring  than  the  large  plains,  thick 
woods  and  wide  pieces  of  water,  which  they  cross ; 
the  humidity  of  which,  acted  upon  by  the  intense  heat 
of  the  sun,  gives  rise  to  ardent  vapours,  the  heat  of 


w 
in 


se 
th 
an 
br 


GHAPTfiR*. 


xxjCi 


seldom  tw« 

ire  frequent 
htning,  and 
I  and  south 

;he  northern 
ard :  when  it 
is  common- 
ither. 
ine,  sea  and 

rain  in  win. 
prevails,  and 
ues,  and  its 
hen  the  wind 
»,  cold  is  nei- 
1  promptly  to 
iithwest,  and 

those  which 
suffocating 

iame  in  Lou. 
rth  America. 

with  snow 
|pole;  while, 
;ontinents  of 

degree  of 
>,  by  a  vast 
1  other  cause 
lains,  thick 
;hey  cross; 
intense  heat 
Ithe  heat  of 


which  being  communicated  to  the  air,  instead  of  cool- 
ing, renders  it  more  suffocating  than  in  calm  weather. 

UUoa  noticed  in  Louisiana  a  particularity,  which 
he  says  is  not  observed  elsewhere.  At  certain  times, 
when  rains  are  abundant,  a  yellow,  thick  coat,  re- 
sembling brimstone  appears  floating  on  puddles  and 
the  big  vats  or  butts,  in  which  rain  water  is  collected 
and  preserved  :  it  is  gathered  in  abundance  along  the 
brims  of  these  receptacles.  The  atmosphere,  he  ob- 
serves, is  loaded  with  sulphureous  particles,  as  is  evin- 
ced by  frequent  tempests ;  it  being  rare  that  rain 
should  not  be  accompanied  by  violent  thunder.  This, 
he  conludes,  experience  demonstrates  to  proceed  from 
thick  woods,  filled  with  resinous  trees,  the  subtle  parts 
of  which  are  exhaled,  and  mixing  with  the  sulphure- 
ous parts  of  the  atmosphere,  unite  with  them,  and  are 
together  precipitated  with  the  clouds  that  bring  down 
the  tempest.  This  sulphureous  substance  is  so  abun- 
dant and  ordinary,  and  at  times  so  much  more  per- 
ceptible than  at  others,  that  this  circumstance  has 
given  rise  to  the  popular  error  that  a  rain  of  sulphur 
falls. 

Before  we  proceed  to  take  a  view  of  the  face  of  the 
«ountry,  the  gulf  on  which  the  state  is  situated,  and 
the  mighty  stream  which  traverses  it,  attract  our  at- 
tention. 

The  gulf  of  Mexico  may  be  considered  as  a  great 
whirlpool.  The  general  course  of  the  waters,  in  the 
Atlantic  ocean,  as  well  as  the  current  of  the  air,  with- 
in and  near  the  middle  zone,  being  from  east  to  west, 
the  force  of  the  sea  cpmes  upon  the  West  India  is- 
lands and  their  lengths  are  in  that  direction.  When 
the  waters  get  into  the  great  gulf,  they  ar^  obstructed 


XXXll 


IMiLLIMINAKY 


;  i: 


1 1 


every  where,  and  as  it  were  turned  round  by  the  land. 
The  great  velocity  of  this  body  of  water  is  to\vards 
the  equator,  and  it  must  get  out,  wh^^ro  it  meets  with 
tfie  least  resistance,  that  is  on  the  side  towards  the 
pole,  where  it  forms  the  strong  current,  or  passage, 
called  the  gulf  stream. 

The  natural  course  of  the  waters  therefore,  on  the 
northern  part  of  the  gulf,  shotdd  be  from  west  to  east: 
but  it  is  partially  changed,  by  frequent  currents  which 
are  very  unequal,  depending  certaiidy  on  the  winds, 
but  seldom  on  that  which  blows  on  the  spot. 

By  the  general  law  of  the  tides,  there  should  be 
flood  lor  six  hours  and  ebb  during  the  six  following. 
But  here,  an  ebb  will  contirme  for  eighteen  or  twenty 
hours,  and  a  flood  during  six  or  four  oidy,  and  vice  ver- 
sa. 

A  southern  wind  always  raises  and  keeps  the  wa- 
ters up  in  the  bays,  and  a  northern  almost  entirely 
empties  them.  Yet,  it  must  be  allowed  that  these  ebbs 
and  flows  are  not  equable  in  their  continuance.  Upon 
an  accurate  observation  of  them,  we  discover  a  ten- 
dency to  two  ebbs  and  flows  in  twenty-four  hours, 
though  they  be  overpowered  by  the  winds  and  cur- 
rents. 

The  entrance  of  the  bays  and  rivers  on  the  gulf  is 
defended  generally  by  a  shallow  sand  bank,  forming 
a  bar  farther  out  towards  the  sea  than  is  usual  else- 
where. The  depth  on  the  bar  is  not  at  all  proportion- 
ed to  that  within.  The  mouths  of  the  rivers  are  fre- 
quently divided  into  different  channels,  by  swamps  co- 
vered M'ith  reeds,  owing  probably  to  the  conflict  be- 
tween the  currents  and  the  rise  of  the  river,  in  certain 
seasons  of  the  year. 

The  water  of  the  gulf  is  not  much  heavier  than  the 
common.  An  aerometer,  immersible  in  common  water 
with  a  weight  of  two  ounces  and  twenty  two  grains 


CHAPTER. 


XXXlll 


I  by  the  land. 
'1*  is  towards 
t  meet.s  with 
touiuils  the 
,  or  passage, 

efore,  on  the 
west  to  oast: 
irrents  which 
in  the  winds, 
ripot. 

re  should  be 
■>\\  follow ing. 
3en  or  twenty 
,  and  vice  ver- 

teeps  the  wa- 
most  entirely 
at  these  p|)bs 
nance.  Upon 
^cover  a  ten- 
y-t'our  hours, 
lids  and  cur- 

3n  the  gulf  is 
ank,  forming 
is  usual  else- 
I  proportioja- 
vers  are  fre- 
y  swamps  co- 
e  conflict  be- 
er, in  certain 

vier  than  the 
)mmon  water 
y  two  grains 


was  found  so  in  that  of  the  gulf,  with  one  of  two  oun- 
ces and  fifty  three  grains,  according  to  an  experience 
by  Father  Laval,  at  the  distance  of  ninety  leagues 
i'vom  the  coast.  Fifty  leagues  inside  of  the  mediter- 
ranean, on  the  coast  of. Spain,  near  Almeria,  the  same 
instnnnent  floated  on  sea  water  with  a  weight,  less 
than  two  ounces  and  sixty  six  grairis.  The  rea- 
son of  this  <lillereiice,  he  concluded  was,  that  larger 
rivers  (low  into  the  gulf,  especially  the  Mississippi, 
bringing  into  it  a  greater  quantity  of  fresh  water  than 
those  which  flow  into  the  mediterranean. 

The  Mississippi  is  remarkable  by  its  great  length, 
uncommon  depth,  and  the  muddiness  and  salubrity  of 
its  w^aters,  after  its  junction  with  the  Missouri. 
Jk        The  source  of  this  mighty  river  is  supposed  to  be 
^    about  three  thousand  miles  from  the  gulf. 

From  the  falls  of  St.  Anthony,  it  glides  with  a  plea- 
sant and  clear  stream,  and  becomes  comparatively 
narrow  before  it  reaches  the  Missouri,  the  muddy 
waters  of  which  discolour  those  of  the  Mississippi  to 
the  sea. 

Its  rapidity,  breadth  and  other  peculiarities,  now 
give  it  the  majestic  appearance  of  the  Missouri,  which 
aflfords  a  more  extensive  navigation,  and  is  a  longer, 
broader  and  deeper  river,  which  has  been  ascended 
near  three  thousand  miles,  and  preserves  its  width 
and  depth  to  that  distance. 

From  their  junction  to  nearly  opposite  the  Ohio, 
the  western  bank  of  the  Mississippi  (with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  few  places)  is  the  highest,  thence  to  bayou 
Manshac,  it  is  the  lowest,  and  has  not  the  least  discer- 
nable  rising  or  eminence  for  seven  hundred  and  fifty 
I  miles.  Thence  to  the  sea,  there  is  not  any  eminence 
^  on  either  bank,  but  the  eastern  appears  a  little  the 
highest,  as  far  as  the  English  turn,  from  whence  both 

E 


lit 


■1 1 


ik: 


If  . 


!  Ii 


.1  < 


51  (. 


xxxiv 


I'RELIMINAHV 


gradually  dpcline  to  tho  gulf,  where  they  are  not  more 
than  two  or  three  feet  higher  than  the  common  sur- 
face of  the  water. 

The  direction  of  the  channel  is  so  crooked,  from 
the  mouth  of  the  Ohio  to  New  Orleans,  that  the  dis- 
tance is  eight  huridred  and  fifty-six  mile^  by  water, 
and  four  tiuiidred  and  fifty  only  by  land. 

The  water  of  the  Mississippi  appears  foul,  turbid 
and  unwholesome,  but  in  reality  it  is  not  so.  It  is  so 
loaded  with  mud,  that  being  put  in  a  vase,  it  yields  a 
sediment;  and  the  sight  of  a  (ju:n)tity  of  earthly  par- 
ticles is  offensive.  In  the  high'»st  tloods,  it  unroots  and 
carries  with  it  large  trunks  ol  trees  to  a  great  dis- 
tance: some  covered  with  verdure,  others  dry  and 
rotten.  This  abundance  of  sound  and  decayed  timber 
cannot  fail  to  impart  some  ot  their  substance  to  the 
element  on  which  it  (loats.  Vet  the  mixture  is  not  per- 
ceptible, and  experience  has  Jrhewn  that  the  water  is 
wholesome. 

The  river  receives  a  numbe  •  of  )ther  streams,  the 
waters  of  some  of  which  are  saltish  and  impregnated 
with  metallic  particles:  but  the  water  of  the  main  ri- 
ver predominates  so  much  over  those  of  the  tributary 
branches,  that  it  preserves  its  salubrity. 

During  the  summer,  while  the  Mississippi  is  low, 
the  water  is  clear,  but  not  so  good  as  at  its  Hood. 
That  of  the  sea  then  ascends  to  a  great  distance  and 
affects  that  of  the  river,  without  rendering  it  unwhole- 
some. The  latter  is  then  warm  on  the  surface,  but 
preserves  its  coolness  below. 

Although  it  is  so  loaded  with  dirt,  yet  it  does  not 
generate  the  stone.  It  being  supposed  that,  however 
clarified  it  may  be,  it  still  continues  to  contain  some 
earthy  particles.  In  many  families,  a  number  of  jars 
are  used,  in  order  to  give  time  to  the  water  to  yield 
its  deposit,  and  the  oldest  is  used.    After  having  thuf 


r 
o 
n 


1 


ire  not  morfc 
smrnon  sur- 

ookcd,  from 
hat  the  dis- 
115  by  water, 

foul,  turbid 
io.  It  is  so 
E),  it  yields  a 
earthly  par- 
unroots  and 
a  great  dis- 
r'rs  (hy  and 
ayed  timber 
lance  to  the 
•e  is  not  per- 
the  water  is 

streams,  the 
tnpregnated 
he  main  ri- 
de tributary 

ippi  is  low, 
t  its  flood, 
stance  and 
it  unwhole- 
urface,  but 

it  does  not 
t,  however 
ntain  some 
ber  of  jars 
er  to  yield 
laving  thuF 


THikPTBR. 


XXXV 


remained  for  a  long  time,  even  for  a  year,  if  a  portion 
of  the  water  be  taken  in  a  glass,  not  the  least  extra 
neous  particle  can  be  discovered,  but  it  appears  a 
diaphanous  as  chrystal ;  yet  if  it  remain  one  or  twc 
days,  there  will  be  seen  at  the  bottom  a  subtle  earth 
resembling  soap.     A  coat  of  this  is  seen  floating  in  the 
large  jars,  in  which  the  water  is  put  to  settle.     Com- 
mon people,  especially  those  who  navigate  the  Mis- 
sissippi, use  its  water  in  the  most  turbid  state  :  and  al- 
though they  do  so,  while  they  are  weary  and  sweating, 
there  is  no  example  of  its  having  proved  hurtful. 

The  coolness  of  the  water  may  be  attributed  to  the 
northern  clime,  in  which  the  river  has  its  source,  and 
the  great  quantity  of  snow  which  it  receives,  or  in 
which  it  is  said  to  originate,  and  the  ice  it  brings  down 
from  the  vast  plains  west  to  north,  as  far  as  the  forty- 
fitth  degree.  In  this  long  course,  it  carries  away  a 
prodigious  quantity  of  earthly  particles,  which,  being 
kept  constantly  in  motion,  are  so  subtilized,  that 
viewed  in  a  glass,  they  appear  like  a  smoke,  filling 
its  capacity.  This  great  subtility  is  doubtless  what 
communicates  to  the  water,  that  wholesome  quality, 
which  facilitates  digestion,  excites  appetite  and  main- 
tains health,  without  producing  any  of  the  inconveni- 
ences, which  other  waters  occasion. 

The  Mississippi  rises  at  its  flood  higher  than  the 
neighbouring  land,  and  inundates  it,  where  it  is  not 
protected  by  an  artificial  bank  or  levee.  Although 
the  river  be  deep  and  wide,  its  ravages,  before  it  was 
confined  by  such  banks,  on  the  contiguous  fields  was 
not  very  great,  owing  to  the  profundity  of  its  bed, 
which  occasions  the  great  strength  of  its  current  to  be 
below,  where  the  rapidity  and  weight  of  the  water 
unite. 

The  water  that  escapes  over  the  levees,  or  oozes 
through  them,  joined  to  that  which  flows  in  places  that 


XXXVl 


niKLIMINARV 


h'  ^  'n 


li 


il 


Rvv  unprolrctrd,  as  well  as  the  raitj  water,  never  re- 
turns into  the  river,  Imt  tills  the  vast  express  swamps 
beyond  the  lillahle  land,  and  tinally  tind  their  way  in- 
to these  lak<'s,  on  holh  sides  olthe  stream,  in  ihe  vici- 
nity of  the  sea.  'I'he  declivity  ol  tlu^  land  on  the  eas- 
tern side  towards  lakes  Manrepas  and  Tontehartrain, 
siiews  that  tlie  earth  which  the  water  ui'  the  Missis- 
sippi ileposited,  formed,  in  course  oltiine,  the  island, 
on  which  the  city  of  New  Orleans  stands. 


It  is  clear  that  the  hed  of  th 


th 


<ame 

proportion  as  its  hanks.     This  is  manifested  hy  the, 
constant  necessity  there   is   of  raising;  the  levees. 

At  the  mouth  o(  the  river,  there  is  also  some  evi- 
dence that  its  hed  rises.  About  the  vear  1722,  there 
Avere  twenty  five  feet  of  water  on  the  bar:  Ulloa  lound 
twenty  in  1767,  at  the  hi^;liest  llood,  and  now  in 
1826  there  are  Bixtcen  ;  while  the  depth  within  has 
ever  remained  the  same.  It  is  possible  tliat  the 
bar,  at  the  ditlcrent  mouths  of  the  river,  may  imve 
risen,  while  the  bottom  of  the  bed  within  may  have 
remained  unaltered.  I5ut  the  mass  of  water,  which 
passes  through  these  mouths,  being  tlie  same  as  ibr- 
merly,  it  ibilows  that  its  tbrce  against  the  waves  of  the 
sea  is  not  altered,  and  no  good  reason  can  appear  why 
the  sea  should  retain  the  sand  to  a  higher  level  than 
betbrc  on  the  bank.  It  is  much  more  natural  to  con- 
clude that  the  bed  of  the  river  has  risen,  whereby  its 
mouths  arc  widened  and  it  meets  the  waves  of  the 
sea  with  less  forc;e,  than  when  it  came  through  deep- 
er and  narrower  channels. 

The  strength  and  rapidity  of  the  current  are  such 
in  high  water,  that  before  steam  was  used  in  propel- 
ling boats,  it  could  not  be  stemmed  without  much  la- 
bour and  waste  of  time;  although  the  sturdy  naviga- 
tors were  greatly  aided  by  eddies  or  countercurrents, 
which  every  where  run  in  the  bends,  close  to  the  shore. 


T 

an^ 
r.ttl 


I 


CIIAHTKR. 


xxxvn 


r,  IK" VIM'  ro- 

I'ss  swmiips 

lu'ir  WMV  in- 

ill  llie  vici- 

oii  llic  (NIS- 

itchfirtraiii, 

1 1 10  Missis- 

,  the  islund, 

ill  tlio  same 
strd  1)^'  llie , 
[?  lrv<;eH. 

0  !:*oiiio  evi- 
17-22,  lliero 

Uiloii  louiul 
11(1    now    ill 

wilhiii  has 
le   that  tlie 

may   have 

1  may  have 
atcr,  which 
amo  as  i'ov- 

avos  ol'the 
ppear  wliy 
level  than 
ral  to  con- 
vhereby  its 
ives  of  the 
ough  deep- 
are  such 
in  propei- 
t  much  la- 
dy iiaviga- 
rcurrents, 
►  the  shore. 


I  lie  current  in  high  water  descends  at  the  rate  offive 
and  even  six  miles  an  hour,  and  in  low  water  at  the 
r.'tte  ol  two  only.  It  is  much  more?  rapid  in  those  pla- 
ces, where  shoals,  hatliires  or  (blusters  of  islands  nar- 
row the  ImmI  of  the  river:  tin?  <:ir(!umference  of  these 
shoals  or  hattiires  is  in  some  places  of  several  miles  : 

iid  they  rendfu*  the  voyag<'  long(M*  and  more  danger- 
uus,  at  low  water. 

TIk*  many  l)eaehes  and  hreakers  which  have  risen 
out  ol  the  (thaniud,  are  eonvincing  proofs  that  the  land 
on  both  sides  tbrm  the  liigh  ground  near  l^ttton  Rouge 
is  alluvial.  The  bars  tliat  cross  most  of  the  chan- 
nels, opened  by  the  current,  have  been  multiplied  bj 
the  means  of  trees  brought  down  by  the  stream. 
One  of  them,  stopped  by  its  roots  or  branches,  in  a 
shallow  plac(;,  is  sullicient  to  obstruct  the  passage  of  a 
thousand,  and  to  tix  them  near  it.  Such  collections 
of  trees  are  daily  seen  between  the  Balize  and  the 
Mississippi,  which  singly  would  supply  a  city  with  fu- 
el for  several  years.  No  human  force  being  adequate 
to  their  removal,  the  mud  brought  down  by  the  water 
cements  and  binds  them  together,  they  are  gradually 
covered,  and  every  inundalion  not  only  extends  their 
lengths  and  widths,  but  adds  another  layer  to  their 
heights.  In  less  than  ten  years,  canes  and  shrubs 
grow  on  them  and  form  points  and  islands,  which  for- 
cibly shift  the  bed  of  the  river. 

The  Mississippi  discharge*  itself  into  the  gulf  by 
several  mouths  or  passes  of  different  lengths.  The 
east  pass,  which  is  that  principally  used,  is  the  short- 
est, being  twenty  miles  in  length ;  the  south  pass  is 
twenty-two,  and  the  southwest  twenty-five. 

The  bars  that  obstruct  these  passes  are  subject  to 
change;  but.  immediately  on  entering  the  river  there 
are  from  three  to  seven,  eight  and  ten  fathoms,  as  far 
as  the  southwest  pass,  and  thence  twelve,  fifteen,  twen- 


\ 


XXXVIU 


PRELIMINARY 


I   ,4' 


iy  and  thirty  fathoms,  which  is  the  general  depth  to 
the  mouth  of  the  Missouri.  The  depth  of  water  over 
the  har  of  the  first  pass  is  sixteen  teet:  over  those  of 
the  other  two  there  are  from  eight  to  nine  or  ten  feet. 
The  shoals  about  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  Hke 
those  in  its  bed,  have  been  tbrmed  by  the  trees,  nmd 
leaves  and  other  matters  continunlly  brought  down, 
which  being  forced  onwards  by  the  current,  till  repel- 
led by  the  tide,  they  subside  and  form  ^^hatis  called 
a  bar.  Their  distance  from  the  entrance  of  the  river, 
which  is  generally  about  two  miles,  depends  much  on 
the  winds  being  occasionally  with  or  against  the  tides. 
When  these  bars  accumulate  sutiiciently  to  resist  the 
tide  and  the  current  of  the  river,  they  Ibrm  numerous 
small  islands,  which  constantly  increasing,  join  each 
other,  and  at  last  reach  the  continent. 

All  the  maritime  coast  of  Louisiana  is  low  and  mar- 
shy: that  from  the  mouth  of  Pearl  river,  where  the  south- 
ern boundary  of  the  state  begins  is  like  that  from  the 
Perdido  to  Pearl  river,  faced  by  low  and  sandy  is- 
lands; the  principal  of  which  are  those  of  Chaiideleur 
and  a  considerable  number  of  islets.  Near  the  mouth 
of  the  Mississippi  is  Round  bay,  in  which  vessels  often 
fall,  and  where  they  wait,  not  without  danger,  and  of- 
ten for  a  long  time  for  a  fair  wind,  to  reach  one 
of  the  passes  of  the  Mississippi,  which  it  would  be  dif- 
ficult to  find,  were  it  not  for  the  houses  at  the  old  and 
new  Balizes  and  the  flag  staff  at  the  former,  which  are 
visible  from  some  distance  at  sea.  The  white  clayey 
colour  of  the  water,  remaining  unmixed  on  the  sur- 
face of  the  salt,  is  also  an  indication  that  the  mighty 
stream  is  not  far.  It  has  the  appearance  of  a  shoal 
and  alarms  strangers :  but  the  soundirigs  are  much 
deeper  off  the  Mississippi,  than  any  where  else  on  the 
coa^t. 


f 


wi 
th 
cu 
an 
in 
att 


CHAPTER. 


X^XIX 


;ral  depth  to 
f  water  over 
)ver  those  of 
e  or  ten  feet, 
sissippi,  like 
B  trees,  mud 
ought  down, 
lit,  till  repel- 
hat  is  called 
>  of  the  river, 
nds  rnurh  oa 
nstthe  tides, 
to  resist  the 
•m  numerous 
ig,  join  each 


ow  and  mar- 
re  the  south- 
hat  from  the 
d  sandy  is- 
Chaadeleur 
r  the  mouth 
essels  often 
iger,  and  of- 
lo  reach  one 
ould  bedif- 
the  old  and 
jr,  which  are 

hite  clayey 
on  the  sur- 

the  mighty 

of  a  shoal 
are  much 

else  on  the 


It  is  an  observation  founded  on  experience,  tTiat 
when  the  water  of  the  river  incorporates  itself  with 
that  of  thi^  sea.  and  is  apparently  lost  in  the  gulf,  the 
current  divides  itself,  and  generally  sets  northeasterly 
and  southwesterly ;  but.  ofTsoundings,  the  currents  are 
in  H  great  measure,  governed  hy  the  winds,  and,  if  not 
attended  to.  will  drive  vessels  southwestward.  be- 
yond the  Balize,  into  the  bay  of  St.  Bernard,  which  is 
full  of  shoals,  and  consequently  of  a  diliicult,  nay  dan- 
gerous navigation. 

The  old  Balize,  a  post  erected  by  the  French  tow- 
ards the  year  1724,  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  is  now 
two  miles  above  it.  There  was  not  then  the  smallest 
appearance  of  the  island,  on  which,  forty-two  years 
after  Don  Antonio  de  Ulloa  caused  barracks  to  be 
erected  for  the  accommodation  of  the  pilots,  which  is 
now  known  as  the  new  Balize. 

The  French  had  a  considerable  fort  and  garrison 
at  the  old  Balize :  but  the  magazine  and  several  other 
buildings,  and  a  part  of  the  fortifications,  gradually 
sunk  into  the  soft  ground.  The  Spaniards  had  a  bat- 
tery with  three  or  four  guns,  and  a  subaltern's  com- 
mand on  each  island.  Such  is  the  situation  of  these 
islands,  that  they  neither  defend  the  entrance  of  the 
Mississippi,  nor  the  deepest  channels.  The  small  es- 
tablishments on  them  appear  to  have  been  made  for 
the  purpose  of  affording  assistance  to  vessels  coming 
into  the  river,  and  forwarding  intelligence  and  des- 
patched to  New  Orleans. 

In  ascending  the  stream,  there  are  natural  prairies 
and  a  prospect  of  the  sea  on  both  sides,  for  most  of 
the  distance  to  the  bend  of  Plaquemines,  where  a 
fort  on  each  bank  defends  the  passage,  and  is  suffici- 
ent to  stop  the  progress  of  any  vessel.  The  British 
in  1815  warmly  bombarded,  during  several  days,  the 
fort  on  the  eastern  bank,    jljie  distance  from  the  Ba- 


.1.'., 


■1!^. 


^f 


I  ,1,;  i 


xl 


PRELIMINARY 


lize  to  it  is  thirty  two  miles.  From  thence  to  the  be- 
ginning of"  the  settlements  there  are  about  twent)' 
miles.  The  intermediate  space  is  a  continued  tract 
oflow  and  marshy  ground,  generally  overflowed.  It 
is  covered  with  thick  wood  and  palmetto  bushes, 
which  seem  to  render  it  impervious  to  man  or  beast. 
The  banks  of  the  river  above  this  are  thickly  settled 
on  each  side  for  the  space  of  thirty-five  miles  to  the 
English  tvirn,  where  the  circular  direction  ot  the  river 
is  so  considerable,  that  vessels  cannot  proceed  with 
the  wind  that  brought  them  up,  and  must  either  wait 
for  a  more  favourable  one,  or  make  fast  to  the  bank 
and  haul  close,  there  being  a  sufficient  depth  of  water 
for  any  vessel  entering  the  river. 

At  the  bottom  of  the  bend  of  the  English  turn,  on 
the  east  side  is  a  creek  running  in  that  direction  into 
Lake  Borgne,  on  the  elevated  banks  of  which,  a  rmm- 
ber  of  Spanish  families,  brought  by  government  from 
the  Canary  islands  in  1783,  found  an  asylum.  They 
were  aided  by  the  public  treasury,  and  procured  a 
scanty  subsistence  in  raising  vegetables  tor  the  mar- 
ket of  New  Orleans.  They  were  in  time  joined  by 
several  Acadian  families.  A  church  was  built  for 
them  at  the  king's  expense:  it  was  dedicated  to  St. 
Bernard,  in  compliment  to  Don  Bernardo  de  Galvez, 
the  governor  of  the  province,  under  whom  the  migra- 
tion was  made.  In  course  of  time,  several  colonists  re- 
moved thither,  and  it  was  then  that  the  sugar  cane 
began  to  be  cultivated,  after  the  abortive  efTorts  to 
naturalize  it  to  the  climate  of  Louisiana,  under  the 
French  government.  This  part  of  the  country  was 
called  Terre  aux  Boeufs,  from  its  having  been  the  last 
refuge  of  the  buffaloes  or  wild  oxen. 

By  a  singularity,  of  w  hich  Louisinana  offers  per- 
haps the  only  instance,  flie  more  elevated  ground  in 
it  is  found  on  the  banks  of  its  rivers,  bayous  and  lakes. 


fr 


CHAPTER. 


xli 


:e  to  the  be- 
bout  (went}' 
tiiiued  tract 
■rtlowed.  It 
etto  bushes, 
lau  or  beast, 
ickly  set  I  led 
miles  to  the 
I  ot  the  river 
Toceed  with 
L  either  wait 
to  the  bank 
pill  of  water 

hsh  turn,  on 
irection  into 
hich.  a  num- 
'niinent  from 
?yhim.  They 
procured  a 
tor  the  mar- 
ie joined  by 
as   built  ibr 
Rated   to  St. 
de  Galvez, 
n  the  migra- 
colonists  re- 
sugar  cane 
e  efforts  to 
,  under  the 
country  was 
»een  the  last 

offers  per- 
d  ground  in 
IS  and  lakes. 


This  elevation  of  a  soil  generally  good,  rarely  too 
strong,  often  too  weak,  owing  to  a  mixture  of  sand, 
varies  considerably  in  its  dcpih.  and  reaches,  in  very 
iew  places  ind(;ed,  the  elevatt^d  land  of  another  stream 
or  lake.  Hence,  the  origiiial  grants  of  land  were 
niaile  of  a  certain  number  of  arpens  (French  acres) 
fronting  the  i^ivenm,  face  au  fleurc^  with  the  eventual 
depth,  which  was  afterwards  fixed  at  forty  arpens, 
and  ordinarily  carries  the  grant  to  a  considerable 
distance  into  the  cypress  swamp. 

These  back  swamps  draining  the  aralde  ground, 
receive,  during  the  high  water,  that  which  comes 
from  the  clou;ls.  and  that  which  filters  through,  oi 
overHows  the  le\  ee — that  which  finds  its  way  through 
the  breaches  of  these  levees  or  crevasses,  occasi 
oned  at  times  by  the  negligence  of  some  planter, 
and  that  which  others  draw  from  the  river  to  irrigate 
their  fields  or  turn  their  mills.  It  may  therefore  be 
correctly  said,  in  Louisiana,  that  water  does  not  run 
to  the  river.  But,  unfortunately  the  mass  of  stagnant 
water,  during  several  months  of  the  year,  to  the  north 
of  the  Mississippi,  between  its  left  bank  and  the  right 
of  the  Iberville,  the  lakes  Maurepas,  Pontchartrain 
and  Borgne  and  those  of  Round  bay,  and  to  the  south 
from  the  Atchatalaya,  between  its  left  barik  and  the 
right  our  of  the  bayous  and  lakes,  which  discharge 
themselves  in  the  wide  estuary  near  the  sea,  finds 
but  a  partial  and  insuthcient  issue  at  high  water,  and 
produces,  especially  in  uncovered  spots,  the  deadly 
evaporation  of  the  fietid  miasmata  of  the  marshes  and 
swamps  it  covers.  Fortunately,  on  either  side  of  the 
Mississippi,  is  found  the  greatest  depth  of  arable 
and  open  ground,  varying  from  the  fraction  of  an  ar 
pent  to  thirty  generally,  rarely  to  sixty,  and  in  very 
few  places  indeed  to  one  hundred.  The  banks  of 
1  he  lakes,  generally  narrower,  are  much  nearer  to  the 


■f'i 


■BKmhBMEH 


V.    i  &^ 


I 


xlii 


I'RELIMINAKV^ 


m 


swamps,  whicfi  empty  their  contents  through  a  ntiiw- 
ber  of  bayous;  they  are  interspersed  with  prairies 
ami  spots  olhigh  land,  covered  with  oak  and  cypress. 

This  gives  to  this  part  of  the  state  a  disagreeable 
aspect,  obstructs  communications  and  insulates  plant- 
ers It  gives  it  a  dismal  and  dangerous  appearance, 
which  must  be  well  known  before  it  may  be  trodden, 
witli  sj^fety.  Nature  seems  not  to  have  intended 
it  for  the  licibitation  of  man;  but  rather  to  have  pre- 
pared it  for  the  retreat  ofaligators,  snakes,  toads  and 
frogs,  who  at  dusk,  by  their  united,  though  discordant 
vocilerations.  upbraid  man  as  an  intruder,  assert  their 
exclusive  right,  and  lay  their  continual  claim  to  the 
domain  they  inhabit. 

It  might  be  concluded  from  this  picture,  that  Lou- 
isiana is  an  unhealthy  country  ;  but  this  would  be  to 
judge  of  the  whole  by  the  part.  The  city  of  New 
Orleans  has  been  visited  (principally  since  the  begin- 
ning of  the  current  century)  with  disastrous  and 
a]i)!f)si  aiiMual  epidemics,  which,  at  a  first  view,  justify 
tlic  4'onclusion  if  they  are  not  the  effect  of  local  cir- 
cumstances. Bui.  it  is  universally  admitted,  thatplan- 
teis  on  the  Mississippi,  whom  an  imperious  necessity 
compels  to  range  themsehes  on  the  banks  of  the 
stream,  especially  aho\e  the  city,  suffer  nothing  from 
the  inlluenc?  of  the  climate  or  their  position. 

Agriculture,  on  ho(h  sides  of  the  river,  from  the  sea 
to  the  vicinity  oi' Bato!)  IJouge,  demands  the  protec- 
t  on  aguinst  its  inundations,  of  artificial  banks  or 
levees.  Public  and  private  interest  have  made  them 
the  ohject  of  the  solici'ude  and  attention  of  the  legis- 
lature. Vet.  as  interest  excites  not  the  vigilance 
of  those  to  whom  the  execution  of  the  laws,  in  this 
respect,  is  committed,  the  negligence  of  a  plan- 
ter occasions,  at  times,  a  breach  or  crevasse  on  ki? 
levee,  in  some  part  of  the  river.      If  it  benot  imme 


IS 


'Hiti 


m 


(JHAPTfiR 


xliii 


ugli  a  ntiiii- 
'ith  prairieB 
ind  cypress, 
isagreeable 
ilates  plant- 
ippearance, 
be  trodden, 
e    intended 

0  have  pre- 
s,  toads  and 

1  discordant 
assert  their 

;laim  to  the 

,  that  Lou- 
would  be  to 
city  of  New 
e  tFie  begin- 
tistrous  and 
k'iew,  justify 
ol"  local  cii'- 
J,  that  plan- 
is  necessity 
inks  of"  the 
othing  from 
n. 

i'ora  the  sea 
the  protec- 
1  bankf^  or 
made  them 
yf  the  legis- 
e  vigilance 
ws,  in  this 
of  a  plan- 
isse  on  ki? 
.'  not  immr 


diately  discovered  or  prompt  attention  given,  the  im- 
petuous waves  ibrce  their  passage  and  widen  I  he 
breach — the  crop  of  the  heedless  planter  is  soon 
destroyed;  the  rails  of  his  fences  lloat  and  his  house 
is  borne  away.  But  the  alarming  Hood  encreases  in 
extent,strength  and  rapidity;  the  angry  stream  seems 
to  have  found  a  new  channel ;  the  back  swamps  are 
filled  to  a  considerable  extent:  the  water  rises  in  them 
and  overflowingfor  numbersof  miles,above  and  below 
the  breach,  inundates  the  cultivated  fields,  reaches 
the  levee  and  despoils  a  whole  neighf)ourhood  of  tiie 
fruit  of  the  sweat  and  labour  of  its  inhabitants.  The 
mischief  does  not  end  here.  The  Mississippi  dof's 
not,  like  the  Nile,  deposit  a  fattening  slime,  on  t!ie 
land  it  overflows.  On  the  contrary,  it  leaves  on  it 
a  large  quantity  of  sand,  destructive  of  its  fertility, 
or  scatters  the  seeds  of  noxious  weeds.  Immediately 
around  New  Orleans,  the  culture  of  sugar  and  even 
gardens  hath  been  abandoned,  on  account  of  the  pro- 
digious growth  of  nut  grass,  the  seeds  of  whicli  have 
been  spread  by  the  water  of  the  Mississippi. 

From  the  English  turn  to  the  city,  the  Mississippi 
is  bordered  on  each  side  by  plantations,  and  the 
houses  are  as  close  to  each  other,  as  in  many  parts  of 
the  United  States  that  are  dignified  by  the  appella- 
tion of  town.  The  planters  are  all  wealthy,  and 
almost  exclusively  engaged  in  the  culture  of  the 
cane.  There  are  a  few  who  cultivate  cotton.  The 
distance  is  eighteen  miles. 

The  city  of  New  Orleans  rises  on  the  bank  of 
the  Mississippi,  in  the  middle  of  a  large  bend.  The 
circular  direction  of  the  stream  here  is  so  great,  that 
although  the  city  stands  on  the  eastern  side,  the  sun 
rises  on  the  opposite  bank.  The  city  proper  is  an 
oblong  square  of  about  twenty -eight  arpents  in  front. 


f 


xivv 


rRLLIMlNARi 


'II  ^  / 


^<r 


on  the  Miississippi,  and  fourteen  in  deptti,  which    uii 
der  the  Prench  and   Sp.iiiisli  gover.wnents  was  sur- 
rounded and  defended  by  a  line  of  fortifications  and 
a  ditch,      ft   lias   in   its  middle,  or»  (h(>  river,  n  lirgje 
square,  or  /?///f/?  f/V/ryns.y.  surrouiuh'd  \>y  an  iron  pallis- 
sado,  and  is  adorned  by  three  elesj.uit  pubhc  edifices, 
the  cathedral,  city  hall,  and  n   building  in  which  the 
courts  of  the  state  are  accommodated  wiih  halls  and 
oifices.    Those  occupy  one   side  of  the  s(juare  :   that 
towards  the  river  is  open  :   eachoft!»e  two  otliers   is 
covered  by  a  block  of  unifoim   h.ousr's.   with   tipper- 
galleries.       The  city  is   intersectetl  by  seven  streets 
parallel,  and  twelve  perpendicular,  to  the  ri\er    "^i  he 
direction  of  the  latter  is  north  west  and  south  east. 
With  its  suburbs.  New  Orleans  extends  along  the  river 
about  three  miles,  and   in  its    utmost  depth  on   tiie 
outer  line  of  the  uppermost  suburb,  about  one.     We 
speak  of  the  parts  covered  by  contiguous   buildings: 
that  within  the  chartered  limits,  is  much  greater. 

The  middle  steeple  of  the  cathedral  is  in  29.  51. 
north  latitude  and  92.  29.  of  west  longitude  irom 
Greenwich. 

The  three  first  streets  parallel  to  the  river  and 
most  of  the  perpendicular  ones,  as  far  as  they  are 
i  itersected  by  the  ibrmer,  have  a  considerable  num- 
ber of'elegaut  brick  buildings. three  stories  high  ;  but 
t!ic  rest  of  the  city  has  notliing  but  small  wooden 
houses,  one  story  high;  some  very  mean.  The  pro- 
portion of  the  latter  is  much  greatei',  tiian  in  any  other 
city  of  the  United  Slates. 

Besides  the  public  buildings  on  the  square,  there 
are  the  old  and  new  nunneries,  a  presbyterian  and  an 
episcopal  church,  the  jail,  custom  house,  court  house 
of  the  United  States,  three  theatres,  an  university, 
hospital  and  market  house. 

Tiie  city  has  three  l)anks,  besides  the  oOlcc  of  dis- 
.•ount  and  deposit  of  that  of  the  United  States. 


M 

-^M 


I ';:!;! 


CHAPTER. 


xIt 


wlucii   uii 
its  was  sur- 
r.atioM^  aiul 
ver,  n  l\\%e 
\  iron  jKillis- 
iliceMilicos, 
I)  which  tlio 
ih  halls  aiul 
(jinirf:    that 
^o  ()tl»cr.-i   is 
with   uppcr- 
•^t'von  St  roots 
!»  ri\or    1  he 
1  south  east. 
ong  the  rivcT 
pp'ih   on   the 
it  one.     Wo 
IS   buildings: 
greater, 
is  in  29.  51. 
ngiludc  from 


e   river 


and 
ir  as  they  are 
erable  nuni- 
es  liia;h  :  but 
mall  wooden 
1  tie  pro- 
K  n\  any  other 

iquare,  there 

erian  and  an 

court  house 

1  university. 

ofiico  of  dis' 
states. 


Two  public  institutions  offer  an  asylum  to  the 
orphan  youth  ol'hoth  sexes. 

In  the  roar,  towards  the  middle  of  the  city,  is  a 
basin  for  small  vessels,  which  approach  New  Orleans 
tlnough  lake  Borgne :  a  canal  about  two  miles  in 
length,  loads  from  it  to  b  lyou  St.  John,  a  small  stream, 
whicii  empties  in  lake  Pontchartrain  :  another  canal, 
in  suburb  Marigny,  affords  also  a  communication  with 
the;  lakes  ;  it  begins  within  a  few  yards  of  the  Missis- 
sippi a'ld  falls  into  bayou  St.  John,  at  a  short  distance 
from  the  place,  where  it  receives  the  waters  of  the 
other  canal. 

In  population,  New  Orleans  is  superior  to  every 
city  in  the  union,  except  New  York,  Philadelphia. 
Balli  nore  aiid  Boston.  It  appears  from  official  docu- 
nioiits.  that  it  contained  in  1709  three  thousand  one 
hundred  and  ni.ioly  persons  of  all  colours,  sexes  and 
ag :s :  in  \7  iH.  five  thousand  three  hundred  and  thirty 
one:  in  1797  eight  thousand  and  fifty-six:  in  1810. 
seventeen  tliousand.  two  hundred  and  forty-two,  and 
according  to  the  last  census,  in  1820,  twenty-seven 
tho!)s  i;i(l.  one  hundred  and  fifty  six. 

The  city  is  protected  from  the  inundation  of  the 
river,  by  a  levee  or  bank,  twenty  feet  in  width,  which 
affords  a  convenient  walk. 

Both  sides  of  the  Mississippi,  from  the  city  of  New 
Orleans  to  the  town  of  Donaldsonville,  a  space  of  se- 
venty-five miles,  are  occupied  by  the  wealthiest  plan- 
ters in  the  state,  principally  engaged  in  the  culture 
of  the  sugar  cane.  This  part  of  the  country  has  been 
denominated  the  German  and  Acadian  coasts,  from  its 
original  settlers ;  and  the  wealth  of  the  present  has 
procured  to  it  the  appellation  of  the  golden  coast. 
There  are  five  parochial  churches  and  a  convent  of 


1| 

h 


hi 


i.l  i 


^.v 


§ 


M 


Xlv 


PRELIMINAKY 


nuns,  between  Nrw  Orleans  and  nonaldsonvillc.  N« 
■water  course  runs  iuto,  or  llovvs  from,  the  Mississippi 
in  tliis  distance,  if  we  except  a  small  canal,  on  the 
western  side,  near  the  city,  which  alTords  a  commu- 
nication with  lake  Baratariaand  others. 

Donaldsonville  stands  on  the  western  side  of  the 
river,  at  the  angle  it  forms  with  bayou  l^nfourche,  or 
the  fork  of  the  Chetimachas. 

This  town,  though  destined  to  be  the  seat  of  go- 
vernment, by  ail  act  of  the  legislature,  is  but  a  small 
place,  ft  has  an  elegant  brick  church,  and  contains 
the  court  house  and  jail  of  the  parish.  The  bank  of" 
Louisiana  has  here  an  olHce  of  discount  and  deposit, 
and  there  is  a  printing  oifice,  from  which  an  liebdo- 
madary  sheet  is  issued.  A  large  edifice  is  now  rear- 
ing for  the  accommodation  of  the  legislature. 

The  bayou  Lafourche  is  an  outletof  the  Mississippi 
river,  which  has  probably,  been  the  first  channel 
through  which  it  discharged  its  water  into  the  gulf 
of  Mexico,  y  y  the  way  of  Big  and  Little  caillou,  the 
Terre  bonne,  Bayou  du  large.  Bayou  du  cadre  and 
Bayou  black,  besides  several  others. 

For  the  soil,  on  the  banks  ol  all  those  streams,  al- 
though of  alluvial  origin, like  the  Mississippi  bottoms, 
which  they  resemble  in  every  respect,  appear  of 
older  formation  ;  at  least  it  is  more  impregnated  with 
oxid  of  iron,  its  vegetable  fossils  more  decayed,  and 
the  canes  and  timber,  which  it  produces,  are 
generally  larger  than  those  on  the  banks  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi. Every  one  of  these  water  courses  is  trom 
one  tofour  hundred  feet  in  w  idth,and  has  an  extensive 
body  ofsugar  land, capable  of  making  fine  settlements 
and  producing  the  best  sugar,  as  well  as  the  olive 
tree,  like  in  Berwick's  bay  to  the  N.  W.  of  this.  The 
land  would  produce  from  two  to  two  thousand  five 
hundred  pounds  ofsugar.  to  the  acre. 


f 


of 


t'ii  I ' 


CHAPiKK. 


xlvii 


)nvilie.  N« 
Mississippi 
nal,  on  the 
;  ii  commu- 

side  ol'  the 
fourche,  or 

seat  of  go- 
hut  a  small 
nd  contains 
'he  hank  ot' 
ud  deposit, 
1  an  hehdo- 
is  now  rear- 
ne. 

;  Mississippi 
irst  channel 
iito  the  gulf 
caillou,  the 
cadre  and 

streams,  al- 
pi  bottoms, 
appear  of 
[rnated  with 
cayed,  and 
duces,  are 
of  the  Mis- 
rses  is  ^rom 
n  extensive 
settlements 
as  the  olive 
this.  The 
ousand  five 


The  climate  is  mild  and  frost  is  s^'ldom  seen  in 
ihis  reji;ioii,  before  the  lust  of  Decembrr:  the  land 
is  easily  cleared  tor  cultivation,  which  consists 
aimply  in  cultiiio;  the  sticks,  cai-es,  and  a  few  large 
magnolia,  or  sweet  gmn,  perhaps  three  or  four  per 
acre,  to  let  th*'  c.nies  dry  -and  set  them  on  tire.  Noth- 
ing then  reinains  except  the  bodies  of  the  trees  and 
stnmfvs:  tfie  fertility  of  the  soil  is  inferior  t©  none ; 
it  produces  every  thing  susceptible  of  growing  in 
the  climate. 

The  hanks  of  most  of  these  rivers,  several  feet 
abovethe  high  water  mark,require  no  levee,like  those 
of  the  Mississippi :  the  land  wants  little  or  no  ditch- 
ing, as  it  drains  naturally :  the  water  has  traced  with 
the  hand  of  time  its  own  gullies.  The  w  hole  country 
affords  great  facility  to  new  settlers,  for  providing 
fish,  oysters,  and  game,  all  at  hand  ;  even  large 
droves  ot  huffiiloes  are  often  met  with  in  the  great 
cane  brakes  of  that  fine  country,  which  has  remained 
80  long  unsettled,  only  on  account  of  the  difficulty 
of  penetrating  through  tSiem. 

However,  it  is  probable  a  communication  will  soon 
be  established  :  a  great  portion  of  that  country  has 
been  viewed  within  the  last  five  years,  by  the  board 
of  internal  improvements;  roads  have  been  laid  out, 
and  a  canal  route  traced  all  the  way  to  New  Orleans, 
fit  for  steam  boat  navigation,  and  having  not  more 
than  ten  miles  to  cut;  six  miles  of  which  pass 
through  firm  and  lloati ng  prairies.  The  fact  is  that 
thirty-seven  arpents  of  canal  in  the  firm  prairie  would 
join  the  waters  of  the  Mississippi  with  those  of  the  La- 
fourche, which  already  communicates  to  bayon  Terre- 
bonne by  fields,  lake  and  a  canal  of  twelve  feet  in 
width,  cut  with  saws  through  about  two  miles  offioat- 
ing  prairies,  by  a  few  inhabitants  of  that  bayou;  but 
dm   passage   is  only  fit  fgr$iaiall  paddling  boats,  as. 


f  i 


4 


i 


n 


'  ii 


'0 


iLlviii 


VKfcLlMlX\K\ 


there  are  twelve  arpeiits  of  cypress  swamp  joining  the 
Terrebonne,  where  the  hoats  have  to  paddle  througli 
the  cypress  kncje.s,  higs  and  l)ruhli. 

The  water  of  the  hikes,  which  are  very  nnmerous 
between  tlie  Lafourche  and  llic;  Terrebonne,  are  fiv(; 
feet  and  a  half  above  iJie  Unci  of  thewaters  of  Ter- 
rebonne, which  aheady  communicates  with  Black 
river,  on  bayou  Cleannoir  by  the  way  of  bayou  Cane  : 
but  a  canal  oi'tvventy  arpents  would  join  those  two 
bayous  six  njiles  above  that,  and  at  the  same  time 
join  the  Grand  caillou  by  means  of  live  locks:  the 
level  of  Black  river  is  six  teet  below  the  latter  water, 
and  Grand  caillon  six  teet  and  a  half,  so  that  thi>« 
canal  can  be  dug  at  little  expense,  above  the  actual 
level  of  the  water,  before  letting  in  that  of  the  lakes. 

The  benefits  resulting  from  these  improvements 
are  incalculable:  the  immense  forests  of  oak 
wood  on  the  bayou  Lafourche  could  be  brought 
to  New  Orleans  in  a  very  few  hours.  The  (juanti- 
iy  of  clam  shells  on  the  big  Catafioula  and  neigh- 
bourhood, might  be  transported  to  jNew  ()rleai»s.  at  a 
moderate  expense  and  make  a  fine  pavement  lor  the 
streets  of  that  city.  At  no  great  cost,  the  fish  market 
would  offer  a  new  branch  of  trade. 

Oysters  could  be  brought  to  market  for  half  the 
actual  price. 

The  magnificent  live  oak  of  Grande  isle  and  Chen- 
iereCaminada,  would  not  only  afford  fine  timber  for 
building  durable  ships  and  steam  boats,  but  yet  ofTei 
an  hospitable  shade, under  their  ever  green  foliage  to 
the  inhabitants  of  New  Orleans,  who  would  resort  to 
those  places,  in  preference  to  any  other,  if  they  could 
get  to  them  w  ith  out  difiiculty. 

Yet,  those  are  comparatively  matters  of  little  con- 
sideration, when  we  refiect  that  this  canal  passes 
through  the  greatest  body  of  land,  fit  for  the  culturf 


CHAPTER. 


xlix 


|)  joining  the 
idle  llnougli 

ry  numerous 
nne,  Jire  live 
crs    of  Ter- 

with  Black 
bayou  Cane : 
II  those  two 
B  same  time 
e locks :  the 
latter  water. 

so  that  thi^ 

the    actual 

of  the  lakes. 

nprovements 

ests    of  oak 

be  brought 
The  cjuanti- 
a  and  neij^h- 

)rleans.  at  a 
rnent  lor  the 
e  tish  market 

for  half  the 

le  and  Chen- 
[te  timber  for 
but  yet  otfei 
en  foliage  to 
uld  resort  to 
if  they  could 

of  little  con- 
canal  passes 
•  the  culture 


ofthcsugfir  cane,  and  in  fact  tlie  ordy  one  in  the  U. 
S.  fully  adapted  to  that  culture,  which  affords  the  pros- 
perous staple  of  this  state;  and  that  this  canal 
will  cause  the  whole  of  that  country  to  settle,  which, 
in  a  few  years  will  double  the,  quantity  of  sugar  now 
made  in  the  whole  state,  notw  ilhstanditig  the  increase 
of  trade,  which  must  naturally  take  place  by  the  facili- 
ty afforded  by  such  canal,  for  the  intercourse  beiween 
New  Orleans  and  the  western  coast  of  the  gulf  of 
Mexico. 

About  thirty  miles  higher  up,  the  Mississippi  has 
another  outlet,  through  bayou  Plaquemines,  the  wa- 
ters of  which,  united  to  those  of  Grand  river,  How  into 
several  lakes  and  lagoor»s  on  the  sea  coast.  Bay- 
ou Plaquemines  is  a  rapid  stream ;  but  is  dry  at  the 
upper  end,  during  winter.  Its  northern  bank  is 
not  inhabited,  being  a  great  part  of  the  year  under 
water ;  and  the  agricultural  establishments,  on  the 
southern  bank,  protected  by  a  small  levee,  are  scarce 
and  insignificant. 

Between  these  two  outlets,  the  banks  of  the  Missis- 
sippi are  thickly  settled ;  but  the  sugar  plantations 
are  few^  and  the  planters  not  so  wealthy,  as  below  Do- 
naldsonville.  Under  the  Spanish  government,  it  was 
believed  the  sugar  cane  could  not  well  succeed  so 
high  up,  and  there  were  but  two  plantations,  on  which 
it  was  cultivated;  they  were  close  to  Donaldsonville. 
But,  since  the  cession,  the  industry  of  the  purchasers 
of  Louisiana  has  proved  that  the  cane  succeeds  well 
as  high  up  as  Pointe  Coupee. 

The  orange  tree  does  not  thrive  well  above  bayoti 
Plaquemines :  the  sweet  is  no  longer  seen,  though  the 
sour  is  found  as  far  as  the  northern  limit  of  the  state, 
on  the  west  of  the  Mississippi. 

The  only  outlet,  which  the  Mississippi  has  through 
its  eastern  bank,  is  a  few  miles  above  bayou  Plaque- 


I  'I 


I 


".i  ll 


'■'^ 


.11  1  I 


S;      3    ' 


lih '  f™  pi 


I 


hKkliminar^ 


ininrs — it  is  called  bayou  Maiisliao.  At  about  ten 
inilrs  I'roiii  the  Mississippi,  it  rocoivos  ttic;  rivrrAtnilc 
from  its  ri<;lit  side,  ami  takes  tlio  name  ot  IberviUe 
river. 

From  t!ie  Missi'^slp|)i  to  tlie  mouth  nl'the  Iberville 
CM  I  \ke  Maurepas,  tlie  distance  alori^  the  stream  is 
sixty  miles:  the  first  ten  of  which  do  not  admit  of  na- 
vi;;ation,  during  n>ore  than  four  months  of  the  year. 
There  are.  at  alltime«,  Irom  two  to  six  feet  of  water 
for  three  miles  farther,  and  the  depth,  in  the  remain- 
ina;  part  of  the  way  to  the  lake,  is  from  two  to  four  fa- 
thoms. 

The  river  Amite  falls  into  bayou  Manshac  on  the 
north  side,  twenty  mii«'S  Irom  the  Mississippi :  the  wa- 
ter of  the  Amite  is  clear,  running  on  a  gravelly  bot- 
tom. It  may  be  ascended  by  vessels,  drawing  from 
five  to  six  leet  of  water,  about  twelve,  and  with  bat- 
teaux  one  hundred,  miles  fartiier.  It  forks  about  se- 
venteen miles  above  its  mouth  :  the  eastern  Ibrk  is 
the  Comile;  the  western,  which  preserves  its  name,  is 
the  most  considerable  and  rises  near  Pearl  river. 
Both  run  through  a  fertile,  rolling  country,  which  as 
well  as  the  low  land,  is  covered  with  canOv  oak,  ash. 
muleerry,  hickory,  poplar,  cedar  and  cypress. 

The  united  waters  of  bayou  Manshac  and  the 
Amite  form  the  Iberville,  the  length  of  which  is  thir- 
ty-nine miles.  The  land  and  timber  on  its  banks  are 
similar  to  those  on  the  Amite,  with  the  ditFerence 
thu  the  banks  of  the  Iberville  are  in  general  lower, 
and  the  country  less  hilly,  with  a  greater  proportion 
of  rice  land,  and  cypress  and  live  oak  of  an  excellent 
quality  tor  ship  building. 

Lake  Maurepas  iy  about  ten  miles  long  and  seven 
wide,  and  tiom  ten  to  twelve  ieet  deep.  The  coun- 
try around  it  is  low  and  covered  with  cypress,  live 
oak  and  myrtle. 


« 


I 


M 

rur 
it 
to 
ab( 


isli 


MIAPTER. 


t  aUout  ten 
I'ivcM' Amitt• 
ot  Iberville 

he  Iberville 
lie  stream  is 
admit  otria- 
of  the  year, 
eet  of  water 
the  remain- 
vo  to  ibur  f'a- 

ishac  on  the 
ppi :  the  wa- 
[ravelly  bot- 
rawirig  I'rom 
lul  with  bal- 
ks about  se- 
Btern  ibrk  is 
its  name,  is 
^earl  river. 
•y,  which  a&s 
K).  oak,  ash. 
rcss. 
ic  and    the 

ich  is  thir- 
s  banks  are 

ditFerence 
leral  lower, 

proportion 
n  excellent. 

and  seven 
The  coun- 
l' press,  live 


The  Tickfoa  is  the  oidy  river  that  tails  into  lake 
M  uirepas.  It  rises  in  the  statt*  of  Mis.-.issippi  and 
runs  a  middle  course  between  Amite  and  i  earl  livers, 
it  hiis  a  suflieient  depth  lor  steam  boat  navigation 
to  the  mouth  of  bayou  Chapeaupilier,  a  distanoc  ol 
about  filty  miles. 

The  pass  of  Manshac  connects  lake  Maurepas  and 
lake  l*ontchartrain.  It  is  seven  miles  in  length,  and 
about  thrcje  hundred  yards  wide;  divide^l  by  an 
island,  which  runs  from  the  former  to  within  a  mile 
from  the  latter;  the  south  channel  is  the  deepest  and 
shortest. 

The  greatest  length  of  lake  Pontclmrtrain  is  about 
forty  miles,  and  its  width  about  twenty-four,  and  the 
averajEje  depth  ten  fathoms. 

It  receives  on  the  north  side  the  rivers  Tangipao, 
Tchefuncta  and  Bonfouca,  with  the  bayous  Castin  and 
Lacemel,  and  on  the  side  of  the  city,  bayou  St.  John, 
and  higher  up  bayou  Tigouyou. 

Tarigipao  has  at  its  mouth  a  depth  of  water  of  four 
,  feet,  Tchefuncta  seven,  and  Borifoucasix. 

Two  passes  connect  lake  Pontchartrain  witli  an 
estuary  called  lake  Borgne,  the  Higolets  and  the 
pass  of  Chef  Menteur,  both  of  which  are  defended  by 
a  fort,  surrounded  by  deep  morasses. 

The  passes  are  about  ten  miles  long,  and  from  three 
to  four  hundred  yards  wide. 

By  bayous  that  fall  into  lake  Borgne.  a  number  of 
iishermen,  who  dwell  on  its  banks,  find  their  way  to 
the  market  of  New  Orleans,  which  they  supply. 
Through  one  of  these,  bayou  Bienverm,  the  British  ar- 
my under  general  Packenham,  proceeded,  with  all  its 
artillery  to  within  a  very  few  miles  of  the  city. 

There  are  from  sixteen  to  eighteen  feet  of  water  on 
the  sides  of  lake  Borgne;  in  the  middle  from  ten  to 


n 

i'  r 


Hi 


PRELIMINAKV 


'     ■■i 


■r» 


\l 


I  ,1; 


:  -i 


twelve  fathoms  ;  but  in  its  upper  part,  tVoni  eleven  to 
twelve  feet. 

Opposite  to  the  entrance  into  lake  Dorgne,  anti  at 
the  end  of  the  Rigolets,  on  the  north  side  near  the 
gulf,  is  the  mouth  of  Pearl  river. 

This  stream  rises  in  the  northern  part  of  the  state 
of  Mississippi,  and  after  traversing  it  centrally,  sendj? 
its  waters  into  the  gulf  by  two  main  branches.  The 
eastern  which,  we  have  seen,  divides  the  slates  of 
Louisiana  and  Mississippi,  falls  into  lake  Borgne. 
The  western,  which  leaves  the  main  branch  in  the  la- 
titude of  thirty  degrees,  runs  entirely  through  the 
former  state  and  falh  into  the  Rigolets. 

Above  the  fork,  the  navigation  is  good  for  steam 
boats,  during  six  months  of  the  year;  some  have  alrea- 
dy ascended  to  Monticello. 

It  is  evident  from  an  inspection  of  this  river,  that 
at  no  very  distant  period,  its  eastern  branch  was  its 
only  channel,  meandering  through  an  extent  of  above 
one  hundred  miles  to  lake  Borgne.  During  some  in- 
undation, the  western  branch  broke  from  the  main 
channel,  through  the  swamps,  and  found  a  nearer 
course,  of  sixty  miles  only,  to  the  Rigolets. 

Above  Manshac,  the  land  gradually  rises  on  the 
eastern  side  of  tlic  river,  to  Baton  Rouge,  a  small  town 
distant  about  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles  from 
New  Orleans.  The  plantations  are  not  all,  as  be- 
low, ranged  side  by  side  on  the  immediate  banks  of 
the  river;  but,  mrny  are  scattered  in  the  intermedi- 
ate space,  between  the  Mississippi,  the  rivers  Amite, 
Comite  and  others  llowing  into  the  lakes  Maurepas 
and  Pontchartrain.  On  one  of  these  the  Spaniards 
made  an  abortive  effort  to  establish  a  town,  called 
Galveztown. 

Sugar  plantations  are  now  much  fewer;  but  those 
on  which  cotton  is  cultivated  are  more  numerous  an(' 


e 

^ 
ti 

o 


o 
vi 


g' 


p:i 


CHAl'TER. 


liii 


om  eleven  to 

)rgne,  and  at 
ide  near  the 

•t  of  the  state 
nlrally,  sendij 
inches.  The 
the  states  of 
lake  Borgne. 
inch  in  the  la- 
through  the 

»oJ  tor  steam 
le  have  alrea- 

ns  river,  that 

•anch  was  its 

:tent  of"  above 

I  ring  some  in- 

om   the  main 

md  a  nearer 

ets. 

rises  on  the 

a  small  town 

miles  from 

t  all,  as  be- 

iate  banks  of 

le  intermedi- 

rivers  Amite, 

es  Maurepas 

le  Spaniards 

town,  called 

jr;  but  those 
mierous  and 


extensive.  Tlie  part  of  the  state  to  the  east  of  the 
Missisj^ippi  and  the  lakes,  having  been  occupied  b} 
the  British  tor  nearly  twenty  years,  the  descendants 
of  its  oricjinal  FreFich  inhabitants  are  in  very  small 
nuiubor,  indeed;  and  a  great  many  of  the  people 
who  have  come  to  Louisiana  from  other  states,  since 
the  cession,  have  settled  there:  during  the  possession 
of  l[j€  r^"i»ish.  several  colonists  from  the  Atlantic  pro- 
vi;;ce>5.  principally  V^irginia,  the  Carolinasand  Geor- 
gia, llottked  thither.  There  was  a  considerable  mi- 
gration in  I7(5tand  171)/)  from  the  banks  of  the  Roa- 
noke, in  iNorth  Carolina  ;  so  that  the  population  dif- 
fe.s  very  little  from  that  t)f  the  Atlantic  states.  The 
mixture  of  French  and  Spaniards  being  small  indeed, 
except  in  the  town  of  Baton  Rouge. 

This  town  is  built  on  a  high  bluff,  on  the  eastern 
side  of  the  river.  The  United  States  have  exten- 
sive barracks  near  it.  It  contains  the  public  build- 
ings of  the  parish,  and  has  two  weekly  gazettes  and  a 
branch  of  the  bank  of  Louisiana. 

On  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  from  bayou  Pla- 
vquemincs,  the   arable   land   is    only  a  narrow   slip 
between  the  bank  and  the  cypress  swamps,  that  emp- 
Hy  <h<?mselves  in  the  Atchafalaya. 

At  a  distance  of  about  thirty  miles  from  Baton 
Rouge  and  on  the  same  side,  on  an  elevated  ridge 
parrallel  to  and  near  the  river,  is  the  town  of  St.  Fran- 
cisville.  The  land  around,  as  far  north  as  the  boun- 
dary line,  which  is  only  fifteen  miles  distant,  and 
far  to  the  east,  is  rolling,  and  tolerably  well  adapted 
to  the  culture  of  the  cotton,  which  engages  the  atten- 
tion of  the  settlers.  St.  Francisville  has  a  house  of 
worship,  a  weekly  paper  and  a  branch  of  the  bank 
of  Louisiana,  and  the  public  buildings  of  its  parish. 

Opposite  to  it,  is  the  settlement  of  Pointe  Coupee, 
the  principal  part  of  which  is  on  a  peninsula,  formed 


i  HI 


m 


li 


;   .1:    fl 


'!| 


H    '.ll     ill 


u 


<  I 


:<' 


iiv 


PKELIMIN'ARV 


by  the  old  bed  of  tlie  Mississippi,  called  False  riveiv 
the  upper  part  of  which  is  stopped  up  at  present. 
The  French  had  a  lort  there,  the  vestiges  of  which 
are  still  discernible.  This  parish  is  populous  and 
wealthy  :  cotton  is  its  principal  slaple.  but  it  luis  ievr 
sugar  plantations.  It  has  no  town;  but  the  planta- 
tions throughout,  principally  on  hoth  banks  ol' F\dse 
river,  arc  much  closer  to  each  other  than  in  any  other 
parish  in  the  state.  It  is  at  high  water  insulated,  by 
the  Atchafalaya  and  the  Mississippi  on  the  northeast 
and  west,  and  by  a  dismal  swamp  which  separates  it 
from  the  parish  of  West  Baton  Rouge,  and  which  is 
then  inundated. 

To  the  west,  and  at  the  distance  of  forty  miles 
from  St.  Francisville,  is  the  small  town  of  Jackson,  and 
about  sixty  miles  to  the  south  of  the  latter,  that  of 
Springfield,  near  the  mouth  of  Tangipao  river,  which 
falls  inio  lake  Maurepas. 

On  the  eastern  side  of  lake  Pontchartrain,  near  the 
mouth  of  the  Tchefuncta  is  the  town  of  Madisonville, 
and  seven  miles  higher  tip,  that  of  Covington.  The 
land  in  this  neighbourhood  along  the  water  courses  is 
a  rich  alluvial  bottom,  and  terminates  in  pine  barrens. 

The  country  near  Springfield,  Covington  and 
Madisonville,  especially  the  two  last,  is  sandy  and 
sterile  in  general,  and  covered  with  pine  trees ; 
although  there  are,  along  most  of  the  water  courses, 
several  spots  well  adapted  to  the  culture  of  cotton. 
The  inhabitants  apply  their  industry  to  making  tar 
and  pitch,  gathering  turpentine,  cutting  timber,  burn- 
ing bricks  and  lime;  the  immense  ridges  of  shell,  on 
the  margin  of  the  gulf  facihtaiing  greatly,  the  last 
operation. 

A  little  above  the  northern  extremity  of  the  settle- 
meat  of  Pointe  Coupee,  Red   river  pours  its  water? 


m 


h'alse  rivei'f 
at  present. 
e«4  ot"  which 
»pul<)us  and 
It  it  hiis  few 
the  planta- 
iks  of  False 
II  any  other 
iisulated.  by 
le  northeast 
separates  it 
Liid  which  is 

r  forty  miles 
fackson,  and 
tter,  that  of 
river,  which 

ain,  near  the 

ladisonville, 

igton.     The 

er  courses  is 

)ine  barrens. 

ington    and 

sandy   and 

pine  trees  ; 

ter  courses, 

re  of  cotton. 

making  tar 

mber,  burn- 

of  shell,  on 

tly,  the  last 


the  settle- 
its  waterF 


CHAPTER. 


h 


into  the  Mississippi.  This  stream  has  its  source  in 
the  vicinity  of  Santa  Fe.  The  Mississippi,  a  little 
below,  sends  part  of  its  accumidated  tlood  to  the  sea 
through  awestcrn  branch,its first outletfromits  source 
called  the  Atchafaldya;  a  word,  which  inthe  Indian  lan- 
guage means  a  long  river.  The  form  of  the  country 
and  this  name,  rjot  at  all  applicable  to  the  stream  at 
present,  h.ive  given  rise  to  the  opinion,  that,  in 
former  time,  the  northern  extremity  of  the  settlement 
of  Poiiite  Coupee  prolonged  itself  to,  and  joined  the 
bank  of  the  Mississippi,  above  the  mouth  of  Ked  river, 
leaving  a  piece  of  ground  between  the  two  streams; 
so  that  Red  river  did  not  pay  the  tribute  of  its  waters 
to  the  Mississippi,  but  carried  them,  and  the  name  of 
Atchafilaya,  which  it  then  bore,  and  was  particular- 
ly applicable  to  it,  to  the  sea;  the  present-^ stream, 
which  has  retained  its  name,  being  only  a  continua- 
tion of  itand  thatin  courseoftime  thewaves  of  the  long 
and  great  'rivers  destroyed  the  ground  that  sepa- 
rated them,  and  divided  the  former  nito  two ;  the 
upper  one  of  which  has  received  the  name  of  Red 
river  from  the  Europeans,  on  account  of  the  colour  of 
its  water,  \yhich  is  occasioned  by  the  copper 
mines  near  it,  the  impregnations  of  which  prevent 
them  from  being  potable. 

The  confluence  of  Red  river  and  the  Mississippi  is 
remarkable  as  the  spot,  on  which  the  army  of  Charles 
I.  of  Spain,  under  Soto,  towards  the  middle  of  the 
sixteenth  century,  committed  the  body  of  their  chief 
to  the  deep,  in  order  to  prevent  its  falling  into  the 
hands  of  the  Indians. 

On  entering  Red  river,  the  water  appears  turbid, 
brackish  and  of  a  red  colour.  For  the  first  sixty  or 
geventy  miles,  its  bed  is  so  crooked,  that  the  distance 
Uirough  its  meanderings  is  two  thirds  greater  than  ii) 


)  ■ 


i " 


If 


fii 


;Ji'^ii« 


i- 


ivi 


I>RELIIV1INARY 


a  straight  line.  The  general  course  is  nearly  east  to 
west ;  the  land  for  upwards  of  thirty  miles  from  its 
mouth  is  overflowed  at  high  water,  from  ten  to  filteeii 
feet.  Below  Black  river,  the  northern  bank  is  the 
highest.  The  growth  in  the  lower  or  southern  part 
is  willow  and  cotton  wood  ;  in  the  higher,  oak,hicko 
ry  and  ash. 

Six  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  river,  on  the  south 
side,  is  bayou  Natchitoches,  which  communicates  with 
lake  Long,  from  whence  another  bayou  aflbrds  a  pas- 
sage to  the  river.  At  high  water,  boats  pnss  through 
these  bayous  and  lake,  and  go  to  the  river  after  a 
route  of  fifteen  miles,  while  the  distance  Irom  one 
bayou  to  the  other  is  forty-five. 

Black  river  comes  up  from  the  north,  about  twenty- 
four  miles  from  bayou  Natchitoches ;  its  water  is  clear 
and  limpid,  when  contrasted  with  that  of  Red  river, 
and  appears  black. 

Above  the  junction,  Red  river  makes  a  regular 
turn  to  the  south,  for  about  eighteen  miles,  forming  a 
segment  of  about  three  fourths  of  a  circle.  Twenty 
miles  above,  the  bayou  from  lake  Long  comes  in,  and 
thirty-three  miles  still  farther  is  the  first  landing  of  the 
Avoyelles :  the  river  all  the  while  being  so  crooked 
that,  at  this  place,  the  guns  of  Fort  Adams  are 
distinctly  heard ;  although  the  distance  by  the  river 
is  upwards  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles.  The 
sound  appears  a  little  south  from  east. 

At  this  landing  is  the  first  arable  soil  immediate- 
ly  on  the  banks  of  the  river,  which,  in  the  whole  space, 
are  higher  than  the  land  behind.  At  a  short  distance 
from  this  landii^,  to  the  south  is  the  prairie  des  Avoy. 
elles,  of  an  oval  form  and  about  forty  miles  in  circum- 
ference. It  is  very  level,  covered  with  high  grass 
and  has  but  very  few  clumps  of  trees:  its  soil  is  not 


■ij-: 


«'ifi 


I 


4 


OHAPTKR. 


Ivii 


arly  east  to 
ilcs  from  its 
en  to  filteen 
bank  is  the 
lUllicrri  part 
r,  oak,hicko 

in  the  south 
nicates  with 
ftbrds  a  pas- 
)nss  through 
iver  after  a 
:e  troin  one 

lOut  twenty- 
rater  is  clear 
)fRed  river, 


s  a  regular 
's,  forming  a 
R.  Twenty 
omes  in,  and 
mdingof  the 
so  crooked 
Adams  are 
>y  the  river 
niles.     The 

mmediate- 
vhole  space, 
ort  distance 
e  des  Avoy. 
s  in  circum- 
1  high  grass 

s  soil  is  not 


very  frrlilo  ;  that  ofllie  limber  land  around  it.  wheii 
clcjircd.  is  i'nr  preferable.  The  lower  end  of  the 
prairio  has  \\\v  richest  land.  The  limber  arouiul  it 
is  cliiedy  oak,  which  produces  good  mast.  The  in- 
liihitanls  raise  cotton  :  hut  the  settlement  is  better 
for  caale  a'ld  ho^s  :  in  hi^li  water  it  is  insul  ited,  and 
at  others  coniiiiunicates  with  those  of  R^piiles,  Ope- 
loii-as  and  I'oiiite  Coupee. 

'1  he  upper  landing  is  lillteen  mileshigher,and  sixteen 
mihs  a  »ov(;,  a  lew  years  .ago,  was  laid  the  loin.da- 
tionof  ih'^  town  of  Cassandra,  on  the  north  side,  op- 
posite to  h:»you  L'amourenx,  which  connects  Red 
river  and  bayou  Bceuf  The  intermediate  land  on 
the  Jiorllieri  hank  is  tolerably  <]jood,  moderately  hil- 
ly <overed  chielly  with  oak.  hickory  ;ind  shoit  leav- 
ed pine  iiut.  at  the  distance  of  a  tew  miles  from  the 
water,  begins  a  pine  barren  tract,  that  extends  for  up- 
wards of  thirty  miles  to  the  settlements  of  Catahoula 
On  the  south  side,  is  a  large  body  of  rich  low  ground, 
extending  to  the  borders  of  the  settlements  of  Ope- 
lousas,  watered  and  drained  by  bayou  Robert  and 
ba)ou  Boiuf,  two  bandtsome  streams  of  clear  water 
that  rise  in  the  high  land  between  Red  river  and 
the  Sabine. 

Bayou  Boeuf  falls  into  bayou  Crocodile,  which 
empties  itsell  into  the  Atchafalaya  to  the  south  of  the 
settlement  of  Avoyelles,  at  a  short  distance  from  the 
large  raft  in  the  latter  stream.  In  point  of  fertile  soil, 
growth  of  timber,  and  goodness  of  water,  there  is  not 
perhaps  an  equal  quantity  of  good  land,  in  the  state, 
than  on  the  banks  of  bayou  Boeuf. 

The  town  of  Alexandria  stands  on  the  south  side  of 
Red  river,  fifteen  miles  above  that  of  Cassandra,  and 
immediately  below  the  rapids  or  falls,  which  are  oc- 
casioned by  a  sudden  rise  of  the  bed  of  the  river. 

H 


!' 


M 


m 


Iviii 


I'KELlMLS'ARi 


■1  '      :  I 

■  ■nil. 


Itii 


which  iM  here  a  soft  rock,  exteiuling  quite  across. 
From  July  to  November,  there  is  a  sufliciency  of 
Wdlor,  over  the  falls,  for  the  passage  of  boats.  The 
rock  is  extremly  soft  and  does  not  extend  up  and 
down  the  river  more  than  a  few  yards,  and  a  passage 
could  easily  be  cut  across. 

The  town  is  regularly  built.  It  has  an  elegant 
court  house  and  a  college,  built  of  bricks,  a  strong 
jail  and  a  neat  market  house.  The  bank  of  Louisi- 
ana lias  here  an  olFice  of  discount,  and  there  is 
a  pri:ili:ig  office,  from  which  a  weekly  paper  is  issued. 

The  settlement  of  Rapides  is  a  valley  of  rich  allu- 
vial soil,  surrounded  by  pine  hills,  extending  to  the 
east  towards  the  Washita,  and  in  the  opposite  direc- 
tion to  the  Sabine.  The  pine  hills  come  to  the  river, 
opposite  to  the  town. 

Immediately  above  the  town,  the  river  receives 
from  the  same  side  bayou  Rapides,  a  semi  circular 
stream,  about  thirty  miles  in  length,  the  upper  part 
of  which  receives  a  portion  of  the  waterof  Red  river. 

Bayou  Robert,  which  is  now  almost  stagnant,  for- 
merly ran  out  of  bayou  Rapides,  about  a  mile  above 
its  mouth  and  winding  through  a  rich  valley  united 
with  bayou  Bceuf.  But,  a  dyke  has  been  thrown  up, 
at  its  former  mouth  and  the  current  confined  to  bayou 
Rapides. 

Both  these  bayous  pass  through  bodies  of  extremely 
fine  land,  of  great  depth. 

Twenty  miles  above  Alexandria  are  two  deserted 
villages  ol  the  Biloxi  Indians. 

Near  these,  bayou  Jean  de  Dieu  orCoteille,  falls 
into  Red  river,  from  the  right  side.  The  stream  of 
bayou  Rapides,  of  which  the  channel  is  continuous, 
was  lormerly  a  navigable  branch  of  Red  river,  wliich 
returned  to  the  parent  stream,  below  and  at  the  foot 


.**: 


t  .•:;  .  i. 


CHAPTER. 


r  quite  acroHsf. 

sunicienc}'   of 

boats.     The 

'xteiul  lip  and 

ind  a  passage 

as  an  elegant 
ricks,  a  strong 
ink  of  Louisi- 
and  there  is 
inpcr  is  issued. 
y  of  rich  allu- 
lending  to  the 
pposite  direc- 
le  to  the  river, 

river  receives 
.  semi  circular 
lie  upper  part 
T  of  Red  river. 
:  stagnant,  for- 
a  mile  above 
valley  united 
en  thrown  up, 
ined  to  bayou 

of  extremely 

two  deserted 

oteille,  falls 
The  stream  of 
J  continuous. 

river,  wliich 
id  at  the  fool 


of  the  rapids  but  the  gradual  deepening  of  the  bed 
and  the  widening  of  tlie  stream  have  loll  it  a  small 
bayou,  which  is  i'ed  by  springs  and  branches  from 
the  pine  hills  ;  one  half  emptyiiig  at  the  former  outlet 
above ;  the  other  at  the  foot  of  the  rapids,  be!ovv. 
The  lower  half  is  called  bayou  Rapides.  The  whole 
length  is  about  thirty  miles.  The  land  throughout 
is  of  the  finest  quality  and  great  depth,  and  now  in 
the  highest  state  of  culture.  These  bayous  are  not 
used  tor  the  purpose  of  navigition,  but  are  capable 
of  forming  with  little  expense,  a  fine  natural  canal. 

Thirteen  miles  above  bayou  Jeande  Dieu,  is  an  is- 
land of  seventy  miles  in  length  and  three  in  widtf), 
the  northern  channel  of  which  is  called  the  Rigoletdu 
bon  Dieu  and  the  other  the  river  aux  Cannes. 

There  is  not  much  good  land  on  the  west  side  of 
the  river;  the  high  lands  generally  confine  i^  on  one 
side  and  the  island  thus  formed  is,  on  the  side  of  it 
bordering'on  the  rigolet,  subject  to  inundation. 

On  the  east  side  of  the  river  the  valley  is  narrow 
but  of  inexhaustible  fertility ;  the  rest  of  the  land 
between  the  river  and  the  Washita,  is  oak  and 
pine  land,  of  little  value,  except  in  spots  on  the  water 
courses. 

The  principal  settlements  of  Natchitoches  are  on 
the  imraeJiate  baiiks  of  the  river,  on  each  side.  The 
land  is  red  alluvion,  of  singular  fertility,  but  not  culti- 
vable to  a  great  extent  from  the  rivers.  The  swamps 
commencing  within  a  very  few  acres. 

The  town  of  Natchitoches  is  at  the  distance  of  one 
hundred  and  nine  miles  from  Alexandria  and  on  the 
same  side  of  Red  river.  It  is  the  westernmost  town 
of  the  state,  being  two  hundred  and  sixty-six  miles 
from  the  Mississippi,  about  four  hundred  from  New 
Orleans  and  five  hundred  from  the  gulf  by  water. 

The  old  town  stood  on  a  hill,  about  half  a  mile  be- 
hind the  present,  which  is  immediately  on  the  bank 


1-i 


yri  I 

M 
11 


'-■*' 


u 


>'RELIMIi\AKY 


ri 


i  \     w 


oftho  river.  On  the  second  street,  is  a  hill  the  area  of 
w'Tu'h  covers  about  two  luiii  ireJ  .vei- 's  ol^rro.ind ; 
on  it  a  fort  and  barracks  \\\\r.  bpen  bail' .  ilic  site  of 
whieli  is  thirty  feet  al)ove  the  b.uik  otlii'^  ri\(M-.  T\n) 
ol  i  town  is  an  extensive  com  noa  ofscv-'r  d  hini(h('d 
acres  entirely  tufted  with  clover  and  covered  with 
sheep  and  cattle.       Notliinj;  of  it  is  di^covj'r  tblf.  Vi- 


cep! 


the  1 


orins  o 


f  thp 


irardeiis  and   some  oJ:.j\ineii 


tal 


trees.  It  bej^  an  to  be  abandoned  sooi  alter  the  ces- 
sion of  the  province  to  Spain.  liclore.  jnosl  of  i!ic 
settlers  dwelt  in  town  :  the  hill  is  nt  stilVih.y  and  the 
streets  were  miry:  the  people  lou.id  th''  place  in- 
coMvenient.  on  account  ol  their  stock  and  tarnis.  and 
filtvl  otV.  one  after  the  other,  and  settle<!  on  the  liver. 
The  merchants  found  its  banks  convenient  for  ladini^ 
and  irdading:  the  mechanics  followed  and  the  church 
and  iail  were  removed.  The  soil  on  the  ri\  ei-,  thouy-h 
much  richer,  is  of  a  loose  sandv  texture  and  the  streets 
arc  not  miry,  nor  much  dusty.  The  town  is  ne:irly 
twice  as  larijje  as  Alexandria.  The  well  water  is 
hardly  potable,  that  ofthe  river  braekisli,  and  tfie  in- 
h  ibitants,  as  in  Alexandria,  have  lar^e  cisterns  for  col- 
lecting rain  water.  The  p«d)lie  buildiiijijs  ot  the  par- 
rish  are  in  this  town  and  a  weekly  gazette  is  publish- 
e.l. 

There  are  two  lakes  near,  within  one  and  six  miles. 
The  larger  has  a  circumference  of  six  miles,  the  other 
of  thirty.  They  rise  and  fall  with  the  river:  the 
stream,  that  coiuiects  them  witli  it,  during  high 
water,  runs  into  them  with  great  velocity,  and  in  like 
manner  to  tf>e  river,  during  the  rest  of  the  year.  The 
quantity  oltish  and  fowls  which  are  obtained  on  these 
lakes  appears  incredible.  It  is  not  uricommon,in  win- 
ter, (or  a  man  to  kill  from  two  to  four  hundred  Ibwls 
I!)  a!J  evening.     They  tly  between  sun  down  a»id  dusk: 


tlHl 

as 
tin! 

Ci  (I 

kill 
w'll 
carl 
iUU\ 
aili)! 
thai 
th< 
S 

bou 

•     s 


il 


mm. 


t  llAi'lER. 


kf 


tlio  area  of 

' .  llic  ssitc*  ol" 
ivcr.  '1'iio 
•al  limidri'd 
>\ crcd  w  illi 

(>J:.aino!i!al 
'|<M'  liir  <<'S- 
jnosl  of  i lie 
l;.y  and  the 
('    place  iu- 
larins.   aiul 
m  the  river, 
t  ibr  ladini^ 
I  I  he  elm  re  h 
i\  er.  tfioiiu;li 
il  tlie  Htrei'ts 
VII  is  nearly 
ell  water  is 
and  (lie  iri- 
enis  for  col- 
or the  par- 
is  publish- 

|id  six  miles, 
the  other 

Iriver:    the 

11  rill  Of  lii^Q 
tid  in  like 
ear.    The 

|d  on  these 

ion,iii  win- 

ilred  low  Is 

and  dusk: 


the  air  is  filled  with  them.  A  man  loads  and  fires, 
as  quiekl)  as  he  can,  v\ithout  taking  aim,  and  con- 
tinues on  the  same  spot,  till  he  thinks  h(^  has  killed 
ei  oiiijjh.  Ducks  and  «i;eese.  hraiit  and  swan  are  thus 
killed,  la  siimsner,  fish  abound  e<pially.  An  Indian, 
\\  \h  a  how  and  arrow,  kills  more  than  two  horses  can 
carry  away,  while  he  is  thus  enjz;aj»;ed.  Some  oi  the 
fisii  u.'ijrh  iVoui  thirty  to  forty  pounds.  The  lakes 
ali;)rd  also  a  plenty  of  shell  for  limf.  At  low  water, 
th  'ir  hoMoms  aiv  most  luxuriant  meadows,  where 
th;-  i  iliahitants  fatten  thfir  horses. 

Sione  coal  is  found  in  abundance,  in  the  neigh- 
boui-liood.  wiih  a  (piarry  of  ajood  building  stone. 
'  Si'iiilar  lakes  are  found  all  along  Red  river  forfive 
or  six  hundred  miles.  They  are  natural  reservoirs, 
for  the  surplus  (piantity  of  water,  beyond  what  the 
banks  of  the  river  may  contain:  otherwise,  no  part 
of  the  ground  could  be  inhabited,  the  low  land,  from 
hill  to  hill,  would  be  inundated. 

Twelve  miles  north  of  Natchitoches,  on  the  oppo- 

liite  side  of  the  river  is  lake  Noir,  a  large  one;  the 

l>ayou  of  which  comes  into  the  Rigolet  du  bon  Dieu, 

op[)osite  to  the  town;  near  it  arc  salt  works,   from 

which  die  town  is  supplied. 

Three  miles  up  the  stream,  is  the  upper  mouth  of 
the  Rigolet  du  hon  Dieu.  where  the  settlement  of  the 
grand  ecor,   or  great  bluflT  begins.     This   eminence 
stands  on  the  south  side,  and  is  about  one  hundred 
feet  high.  Towards  the  river,  it  is  almost  perpendicu- 
lar, and  of  a  soft  white  rock:  the  top  is  a  gravel  loam 
of  considerable   extent,  0!i   which  grow  large  oaks, 
,  hickory,  black  cherry  and  grape  vines.     There  is  a 
I  small  blulfnear,  at  the  foot  of  which  is  a  large  quan- 
1  tity  of  stone  coal,  and  several  springs  of  the  best  wa- 
ter in  this  part  of  the  country.     Near  them,  is  a  lake 
of  clear  water,  with  a  gravelly  margin. 


1^1 


■'.  W  J 


■^m 


k 


Ixii 


••RELIMINARV 


Tho  rivor  makes  a  Iarp;o  bnid  above  the  bluflTH,  to 
the  north,  and  a  loiij;  rcjach,  iicfuly  due  east  by  it. 
About  a  mile  above,  Irom  the  south  shore, a  larp;e  bay- 
ou eomes  iit  Iroiii  the  Spanish  hike,  whieh  is  about 
(ifty  miles  in  eireumference,  and  rises  and  falls  with 
the  river,  from  whieh  the  largest  bofds  may  aseend 
to  the  lake,  and  throu<rh  it  up  several  bayous,  parti- 
cularly bayou  Dupin,  up  nhieh,  boats  muy  go  within 
one  mile  and  a  hall  from  the  old  Freneh  Ibrt,  at  the 
Ad  ayes. 

Two  miles  above  this  place,  the  river  forks;  the 
southwestern  branch  rurming  westerly  for  sixty  miles, 
then  forming  and  meeting  the  other. 

The  country,  bounded  to  tlie  east  and  north  by  thifi 
branch  of  the  river,  is  called  the  bayou  Pierre  settle- 
ment, from  a  stream  that  traverses  it.  Fart  of  the  land 
was  granted  by  the  French  government.  The  inha- 
bitants raised  large  herds  of  cattle  and  made  some 
cheese.  The  settlement  is  interspersed  with  prair- 
ies, and  the  land  is  equally  ricii,  as  the  river  bottoms. 
The  hills  are  of  a  good  grey  soil.  The  creek,  called 
by  the  new  settlers,  Stony  creek,  aflTords  several  good 
mill  seats.  Its  bed  and  ba/iks  furnish  a  good  kind  of 
building  stone.  The  upland  is  high,  gently  rolling, 
and  produces  good  corn,  cotton  and  tobacco.  A  few 
miles  to  the  west  is  an  abundant  saline. 

Higher  up  on  the  river,  on  a  hill,  to  the  north  east 
is  theCampti  settlement.  The  river  land  is  here 
much  broken  by  bayous  and  lagoons. 

Between  lake  Bistineau  and  the  tributary  streams 
of  the  Washita  is  a  new  and  extensive  settlement, 
which  has  grown  up  within  a  ^ew  years,  called  Al- 
len's settlement.  The  land  is  second  rate  upland, 
finelly  watered  and  well  adapted  to  raising  stock. 

The  country  to  the  west  of  Red  river,  extending  to 
the  Sabine,  furnishes  but  a  small  proportion  of  even 


of  4 

( 
Rf 

vvhi 


!l-i 


II  ■ 


CIIAFTKR. 


Ixiiri 


J'A 


'  bluffH,  to 
■ast  by  it. 
Iar(];e  hay- 
i  is  about 

falls  with 
ay  ascriid 
ous.  parli- 

^o  within 
lort,  at  the 

forks  ;  (he 
sixty  miles, 

>rth  by  tliig 
(MTo  settle- 
ol  the  hmd 

The  inha- 
nade  some 
with  prair- 

r  bottoms, 
k,  called 

veral  good 

od  kind  of 
ly  rolling, 

o.     A  few 

lorth  east 
is   here 

y  streams 
ettlement, 

ailed   Al- 

;e  upland, 

stock. 

ending  to 
)n  of  even 


!»4icond  rate  larul.  It  is  generally  covered  with  oak 
and  pi.ie.  'inhere  are  some  choice  spots  of  land  j  but 
of  small  extent. 

Cantonement  Jessup  is  situated  halfway  between 
Rod  riv(M"  and  tlie  Suhine  and  on  the  highest  ridge, 
which  separates  the  streams  tlowing  intothese  rivers. 

TliL'  land  on  the  Sabine  is  unfit  for  cultivation  to 
any  extent.  The  part  of  it,  wliich  is  not  subject  to 
sudden  overllow,  is  liigh  land  of  no  value  but  for 
raising  stock. 

Above  is  the  obstruction,  commordy  called  the 
great  raft,  choking  up  the  channel  for  upwards  of  one 
hundred  miles,  hy  the  course  of  the  river.  It  was  exa- 
mined, during  the  winter  of  1826,  by  capt.  Birch  and 
lieutenant  Lee,  with  a  detachment  from  cantonment 
Jessup,  by  order  of  the  secretary  of  war  of  the  Uni- 
ted States,  with  the  view  of  ascertaining  the  practica- 
bility of  opening  a  passage  for  steam  boats. 

They  foutid,  within  one  hundred'miles  of  the  bed  of 
the  liver,  above  one  hundred  and  eighty  rafts  or  jams 
of  timber,  from  a  few  to  four  hundred  yards  in  length. 
They  thought  that  to  break  through,  or  remove  them, 
so  as  to  admit  the  passage  of  a  steam  boat,  would  be 
a  work  of  immense  labour  and  expense,  and  that,  if 
done,  the  loose  timber  would  probably  ibrm  other 
rafts  below. 

The  bank  of  the  river  appeared  to  them  very  rich  j 
but  so  covered  with  canes,  briars  and  vines,  as  to  ren- 
der it  impossible  to  advance,  without  cutting  a  pas- 
sage all  the  way,  and  they  judged  a  man  could  cut 
but  a  few  yards  in  a  day. 

They  crossed  over  an  island  hauling  a  light  skill 
to  bayou  Pierre,  from'which  a  canal  ot  less  than  halt 
a  mile,  through  an  alluvial  soil,  would  open  a  com- 
munication with  lake  Scioto.  This  lake  is  about  one 
hundred  miles  long  and  five  or  six  wide :  a  channel 


fW 


% 


•f 


I .  ;i 


:■    1 1 


M 


m 


i^»h 


Ixiv 


rUKLIMIiNAUY 


fen  ibet  drop  rims  tliron^rli  it.  The  fiii!;li  \vnlor  mnrk 
is  at  least  (iKcrn  i'vvt  above  the  surl.irc  of  the  lakr  in 
winter.  Tlie  lake  lias  an  indented  shore,  pandlel  to 
the  river,  and  a  eoniinunicatioii  with  it  ahotit  twenty- 
five  miles  above  the  rait,  and  another  mij^ht  be  easily 
0|)eiu;d  many  miles  liii;hern|). 

In  aseendinjj;  bayou  IMerre,  which  lalls  into  the 
river  six  miles  iibove  the  tpwri  of  Nntehitoehes,  the 
principal  obstrnclion  consists  ot  a  number  ol  cypress 
stumps,  that  mi«;ht  !>e  easily  removed  at  low  w:«ter. 
This  once  elUcted  ;nid  a  caiKil  cut  into  lake  Scioto, 
ther*'  woidd  be  nothiti£>;,  at  hif^h  water,  to  pr<'vent 
steam  bo.Us  ascendin<i;  Ked  river  one  thousiii d  miles 
above  the  town  of  Natcbitoclies.  even  into  New  Mexi- 
co, lhrou<i;h  a  fertile  and  salubrious  country.  It  is  be- 
lieved, that  the  pnssa^^e  tbroua;h  bayou  IMerre  is  one 
hundred  miles  shorter  than  through  the  main  branch 
ot  the   river. 

Cotton  is  exclusively  cultivated  lor  sale  in  the  set- 
tlement ol'  Rapides,  and  almost  so  in  that  ot  Nate  hi- 
toches,  in  which  tobacco  is  also  raised  :  it  is  ola  supe- 
rior quality;  the  planters  do  not  put  it  up  as  else- 
where in  hogsheads,  but  bring  it  to  market  in  carrots. 

Black  river,  at  its  mouth,  is  about  one  hundred 
yards  in  width,  and  is  twenty  leet  deep.  Its  banks 
are  covered  with  pea  vine,  and  several  kinds  of  gras- 
ses, bearing  a  seed  which  geese  ami  ducks  eat  gree- 
dily. Willows  are  generally  seen  on  one  side  or  the 
other,  with  a  small  growth  of  black  oak.  pecan,  hick- 
ory elm.&c.  It  takes  its  name  at  the  distance  ol  six- 
ty-six miles  from  Red  river,  w  here  it  branches  out  in- 
to the  Catahoula,  Washita  and  Tensa.  Its  width 
here  does  not  exceed  eiglity  yards.  The  soil  is  a 
black  mould  mixed  with  a  moderate  proportion  o) 
sand,  resembling  much  the  soil  of  the  Nlissis.  ippi. 
Yet  the  Ibrest  trees  are  not  like  those  on  that  stream. 


(JHAPTER. 


Ixv 


Mnlor  iTinrk. 
'  UiV  lake  iti 
,  piirallcl  to 
tout  Iwriify- 
lit  be  eabilv 

lis  info  (lie 
iloclirs,  tlic 
r  of  cypress 
[  \o\\  water, 
lake  Seiolo, 
to  prevent 
iisaid  miles 
)  New  iMexi- 
ry.  It  is  Ijc- 
ieire  is  one 
[lain  branch 

e  in  the  set- 

l  of  Nate  hi- 

is  of  a  supe- 

up  as  elsc- 

!t  in  carrots. 

le   fiundred 
Its  banks 
I  ids  of  gras- 
s  eat  gree- 
side  or  the 
)ecan,  hick- 
ance  ol  six- 
dies  out  in- 
ks  widlh 
he  soil  is  a 
oporlion   oJ 
i\lissis.  ippi. 
hat  stream. 


but  resemble  those  on  R<'d  river.  The  cane  ^rowB 
on  several  pnrts  ofits  right  bank,  and  a  tew  sinall  wil- 
lows are  seen  on  either.  In  advancing  up  the  river, 
the  ti!ni>er  becomes  large,  rising  in  some  places  to  the 
heJLjht  ol  forty  leel.  The  land  is  at  times  inundated, 
not  by  the  waters  ol"  the  river,  but  I'rom  the  intrusio  i 
ol"  its  pow^ert'ul  neighbour,  the  Mississippi.  The  land 
declines  rapidly  froui  the  banks,  as  in  all  alluvial 
countries,  to  the  cypress  swamps,  where  more  or  less 
water  stagnates,  during  the  whole  year.  Tow  ards  the 
upper  end  ot'HIack  river,  theshore  abounds  with  mus- 
cles and  perrywincles,  the  first  of  the  kind  called 
pearl  muscles. 

The  land,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Catahoula  is  evi- 
dently alluvial.  In  process  of  time,  the  river,  shutting 
up  its  ancient  passage,  and  elevating  the  banks  over 
which  its  waters  pass  no  longer,  communicates  with 
the  same  lacility  as  formerly.  The  consequence  is, 
that  many  iarge  tracts,  before  subject  to  inundation, 
are  now  exempt  from  that  inconvenience. 

There  is  ati  embankment  running  from  the  Cata- 
houla to  Black  river  (enclosing  about  two  hundred 
acres  of  rich  land)  at  present  about  ten  feet  high,  and 
ten  feet  broad.  This  surrounds  four  large  mounds  of 
earth  at  the  distance  of  a  bow-shot  from  each  other: 
each  of  which  may  be  twenty  feet  high,  one  hundred 
feet  broad,  and  three  hundred  feet  long  at  the  top, 
besides  a  stupendous  turret,  situated  on  the  back  part 
of  the  whole,  or  farthest  from  the  water;  the  base 
covers  about  an  acre  of  ground,  rising  by  two  steps  or 
stories,  tapering  in  the  ascent ;  the  whole  surmounted 
by  a  great  cone  with  its  top  cut  off.  This  tower  of 
earth,  on  admeasurement,  was  found  to  be  eighty  feet 
perpendicular. 

The  Tcnsa  is  a  creek  thirty  six  miles  long,  the  is- 
Hue  of  a  lake  of  the  same  name,  twenty-four  miles  in 


i    1 


^:i' 


f'jii  '  'I 


MM^ 


Ixvi 


I'RELlMINAItY 


lerisjth  and  six  in  breadth,  which  lies  west  from  the 
mouth  of  the  Catahoula,  and  communicalrs  with 
Red  river,  during  the  great  annual  inundations. 

To  the  west  and  iiorthwebt  angle  of  this  lake,  a 
stre  im  called  Little  river  enters,  and  preserves  its 
ch.'nnel  of  running  water  during  all  the  year:  mean- 
dering along  the  bod  of  the  lake,  the  superfices  of 
wiiich,  in  all  other  parts,  during  the  dry  season  from 
July  to  November,  aisd  frequently  later,  is  complete- 
ly drained,  covered  with  the  most  luxuriant  herbage, 
and  becomes  the  retreat  of  immense  herds  of  deer, 
of  turkeys,  geese  and  crane. 

The  Tensa  serves  only  to  dr.iin  off  a  part  of  the 
Waters  of  the  inundation  from  the  low  land  of  the 
Mississippi,  which  communicates  with  Black  river  du- 
ring the  season  of  high  water. 

Three  miles  up  the  Washita  and  on  the  right  side, 
comes  a  stream  called  the  Haha,  one  of  the  many  pas*> 
sages  through  which  the  waters  of  the  great  inunda- 
tion penetrate  and  pervade  all  the  low  land ;  annibi- 
latij)g,  tor  a  time,  the  current  of  lesser  streams  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  Mississippi. 

Five  miles  above  is  the  prairie  Villeniont^  thus  na- 
med from  its  having  been  included  in  a  grant  from 
the  Frf-nch  government  to  an  officer  of  that  name. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  last  century,  the  French 
projected,  and  began  here  extensive  settlements,  but 
the  massacro  in  1730,  and  the  subsequent  destruc- 
tion of  the  Na'chez  Indians,  broke  up  all  their  un- 
dertakings, and  they  were  not  renewed  by  the 
French. 

The  timber,  on  both  sides  of  the  Washita  to  this 
prairie,  is  thiefly  the  red,  while  and  black  oak,  inter- 
spersed with  a  variety  of  other  trees. 

The  plains  of  the  Washita  lie  on  its  east  side,  and 
sloping  from  the  bank,  are  inundated  in  the  rear  bf 


% 


CHAPTER. 


Ixvii 


est  from  the 
licalrs  with 
atioDS. 
this  lake,  a 
^reserves  its 
year:  mean- 
iuperfices  of 
season  from 
is  complete- 
»nt  herbage, 
?rds  of  deer, 

part  of  the 
land  of  the 
ick  river  du- 

e  right  side, 
le  many  pas* 
eat  inunda- 
md ;  annihi- 
earns  in  the 

ont^  thus  na- 
grant  from 
at  name, 
tlie  French 
ements,  but 
nt  destruc- 
11  their  un- 
ed    by    the 

hita  to  this 
i.  oak,  inter- 

st  side,  and 
the  rear  b| 


the  Mississippi.  In  certain  great  floods,''the  water 
has  advanced  so  far,  as  to  be  ready  to  pour  into  the 
Washita  over  its  margin. 

On  approaching  towards  bayou  Lowes,  which  the 
Washita  receives  from  the  right,  a  little  below  its 
first  rapid  there  is  a  great  deal  of  high  land  on  both 
sides  of  the  river,  producuig  the  long  leaved  pine. 

At  the  foot  of  the  rapids,  the  navigation  is  obstruct- 
ed, by  beds  of  gravelly  sknd  ;  above  the  first  rapid  is 
a  high  ridge  of  primitive  earth,  studded  with  abun- 
dance of  fragments  of  rocks  or  stone,  which  appear  to 
have  been  thrown  up  to  the  surface  in  a  very  irregu- 
lar manner.  The  stone  is  of  a  very  friable  nature, 
some  of  it  having  the  appearance  of  indurajted  clay; 
the  rest  is  blackish,  from  exposure  to  the  air;  within, 
it  is  of  a  greyish  white.  It  is  said  that  the  strata  in 
the  hill  are  regular  and  might  afford  good  grind- 
stones. 

The  other  rapid  is  formed  by  a  ledge  of  rocks  cros- 
sing the  entire  bed  of  the  river :  above  it,  the  water 
appears  as  in  a  mill  pond  and  is  about  one  hundred 
yards  wide. 

Twelve  miles  higher,  a  little  above  a  rocky  hill, 
comes  in  the  bayou  Aux  Boeufs.  The  river  is  here, 
at  low  water,  about  two  fathoms  and  a  half  deep,  on  a 
bottom  of  mud  and  sand.  The  banks  of  the  river  ap- 
pear to  retain  very  little  alluvial  soil ;  the  high  land 
earth  which  is  a  sandy  loam  of  a  grey  colour,  hag 
streaks  of  red  sand  and  clay.  The  soil  is  not  rich ;  it 
bears  pines,  interspersed  with  red  oak,  hickory  and 
dogwood. 

A  third  rapid  created  by  a  transverse  ledge  of 
rock,  narrows  the  river  to  about  thirty  yards. 

Similar  rapids  occur  as  far  as  the  settlement.  It  is 
a  plain  or  prairie,  which  appears  alluvial  from  the 
regular  slope  of  the  laud  from  the  bank  of  the  river, 


f  'I 


% 


A?1 


i;/- 


■!    ! 


I!  ■■  . '  I 


'hi 


M^^ 


IxTiii 


PRELIMINARY 


the  bed  of"  which  is  now  sufficiently  deep  to  preserve 
it  from  inundation.  Yet,  in  the  rear,  the  waters  of 
the  Mississippi  approach,  and  sometimes  leave  dry 
but  a  narrow  strip  of  land  aloiig  tlie  bank  of  the 
Washita.  The  soil  is  here  very  f^ood,  hut  not  equal 
to  the  Mississippi  bottoms ;  it  may  be  estimated  se- 
cond rate.  At  a  small  distance  to  the  east,  are  ex- 
tensive cypress  swamps,  over  which  the  waters  t)f  the 
hiundation  always  stand,  to  the  depth  ot  from  fifteen 
to  twenty-five  feet.  On  the  west,  after  passing  onrc 
the  valley  of  the  river,  the  breadth  of  v\hich  is  from 
one  quarter  to  two  miles,  the  land  assumrs  an  eleva- 
tion from  one  hundred  to  three  hundred  feet,  and  ex- 
tends to  the  settlements  of  Red  river.  It  is  there 
poor  and  what  is  called  pine  barrens. 

On  this  part  of  the  river,  lies  a  cofisiderable 
tract  of  land,  grantc^d  in  1795  by  the  Baron  de  Ca- 
rondelet  to  the  Marquis  of  Maison  Rouge,  a  French 
emigrant,  who  proposed  to  bring  into  Louisiana,  thir- 
ty families  from  his  country,  who  were  to  descend  the 
Ohio  tor  the  purpose  of  forming  an  establishment,  on 
the  banks  of  the  Washita,  designed  principally  for 
the  culture  of  wheat,  and  the  maimfacture  of  flour. 
This  tra»  t  was  two  leagues  in  width,  and  twelve  in 
length,  traversed  by  the  river. 

The  town  of  Monroe  stands  on  the  side  of  the 
Washita,  and  at  high  water  is  approached  by  large 
steam  boats  ;  but  the  navigation  is  interrupted  du- 
ring a  great  part  of  the  year  by  miny  shoals  and  ra- 
pids. The  general  width  of  the  river  to  the  town  is 
from  eighty  to  one  hundred  yards.  Its  banks  present 
very  little  appearance  of  alluvial  soil,  but  furnish  an 
infinite  number  of  beautiful  landscapes. 

A  substan(  e  is  found  ahng  the  river  side,  nearly 
resembling  mineral  coal;  its  appearance  is  that  of  the 
carbonated  wood,  described  by  Kirwan.     It  does  not 


ol 

P" 

ol 

P 


mil. 


% 


.•^^ 


UHAFTEH. 


txix 


p  to  preserve 

[he  waters  of 
les   leave  dry 
bank    ot"  tlie 
hut  iiot  etjual 
estimated  se- 
east,  are  ex- 
waters  »)f  the 
)t  from  tifteen 
passing  oni  c 
which  is  trom 
inr-s  an  elcva- 
l  ieet,  and  ex- 
It  is   there 

considerable 
3aron  de  Ca- 


gf^^ 


a  French 


ouisiana,  thir- 
o  descend  the 
blishment,  on 
rincipally  for 
tiire  of  Hour, 
nd  twelve  in 

side  of  the 
Ihed  by  large 
rrupted  du- 
loals  and  ra- 
the town  is 
|anks  present 
it  furnish  an 

side,  nearly 
[s  that  of  the 
It  does  not 


easily  burn,  but  being  appUcHl  to  the  flame  of  a  can- 
dle, it  sensibly  increases  it,  and  yields  a  faint  smell, 
resembling  that  of  gum  lac,  or  common  seahng  wax. 
',     .Soil  triable  stone  is  common,  and  great  quantities 
lof  gravel  and   sand  are  upon  the  beach;  on  several 
I  parts  of  the  shore  a  redish  clay  appears  in  the  strata 
of  the  banks,  much  indurated  and  blackened  by  ex- 
posure to  light  and  air. 

The  land  above  the  town  is  not  very  inviting,  the 
soil  being  poor  and  covered  with  pine  wood. 

About  thirty-six  miles  higher  up  is  bayou  Barthe- 
lemy.  on  the  right.  Here  begins  Baron  de  Bafitrop''e 
grant  of  land,  by  the  Baron  de  Carondelet  in  1795, 
obtained  nearly  on  the  same  terms  as  that  of  the 
Marquis  de  Maison  Rouge.  It  is  a  square  of  four 
leagues  on  each  side,  containing  about  one  million  ol 
acres. 

,  The  bank  of  the  river  continues  about  thirty  feet  in 
height,  of  which  eighteen  from  the  water  are  a  clayey 
loam  of  a  pale  colour,  on  which  the  water  has  depos- 
ited twelve  feet  of  light  sandy  soil,  apparently  fertile, 
and  of  a  dark  brown  colour.  This  description  of  land 
is  of  a  small  breadth,  not  exceeding  one  half  of  a 
mile  on  each  side  of  the  river;  and  may  be  called 
,  the  valley  of  the  Washita,  between  which  there  is 
high  land  covered  with  pine. 

The  soil  continues  with  a  growth  of  small  timber  to 
the  bayou  des  butes,  which  has  it  sname  from  a  num- 
ber of  Indian  mountds  along  its  course. 

The  margin  of  the  river  begins  now  to  be  covered 
with  such  timber  as  grows  on  inundated  land,  particii- 
;  larly  a  species  of  white  oak,  vulgarly  called  the  over- 
i  cup  oak,  the  wood  of  which  is  remarkably  hard,  solid, 
ponderous  and  durable.  It  produces  a  large  acorn, 
in  great  abundance,  on  which  bears  feed,  and  which 
is  very  fattening  for  hogs. 


m 


■I 


« 


'  'I 


1  ■'■  (,' 


J*SH 


■1\^''  '< 


Si     ' 


fxx 


JPRELIMINARY 


A  few  miles  higher  up  is  a  long  and  narrow  island. 
Here  the  face  of  the  country  begins  to  change.  The 
banks  of  the  river  are  low  and  steep,  its  bed  deeper 
and  more  contracted,  being  from  twenty-five  to  thirty 
feet  in  depth.  The  soil,  near  the  water,  is  h  verj 
sandy  loam,  covered  with  such  vegetation,  ay  is  found 
on  the  inundated  land  of  the  Mississi[)pi.  The  tract 
presents  the  appearance  of  a  new  soil,  very  diflerent 
from  what  is  below.  This  alluvial  spo!  may  be  sup- 
posed the  old  site  of  a  great  lake,  drained  by  a  na  rural 
channel,  by  the  abrasion  of  the  water — since  which 
period,  the  annual  inundations  have  deposited  the 
superior  soil.  Eighteen  or  twenty  feet  are  wanting 
to  render  it  habitable  for  man.  It  appears  now  well 
stocked  with  the  beasts  of  the  forest. 

Mallet's  island  is  above.  Its  upper  point  has  been 
ascertained  to  be  within  32  1-2  seconds  to  the  northern 
line  of  the  state.  The  bed  of  the  river  along  this  al- 
luvial soil  is  generally  covered  with  water,  and  its 
navigation,  uninterrupted.  Near  it  is  marais  des  Sa- 
bines^  on  the  right.  A  stratum  of  dirty  white  clay,  un- 
der the  alluvial  tract,  shows  the  end  of  the  sunken 
and  the  approach  of  the  high  land.  The  salt  lake 
marsh  does  not  derive  its  name  from  any  brackish- 
nessin  its  water;  but  from  its  contiguity  to  some  of 
the  lakes,  generally  found,  on  a  clayey  soil,  compact 
enough  for  potters  ware. 

Opposite  to  this  place  is  a  point  of  land,  forming  a 
promontory,  advancing  within  a  mile  of  the  river,  and 
to  which  the  boats  resort,  when  the  low  lands  are 
covered  with  water. 

Great  salt  lick  creek,  a  stream  of  considerable 
length,  and  navigable  lor  small  boats,  comes  in  above. 
The  hunters  ascend  it  three  hundred  miles  and  affirm 
that  none  of  the  springs  that  feed  it  are  salt.  It  has 
obtained  its  name  from  the  many  buffalo  salt  licks 
discovered  in  its  vicinity. 


^ 


are 


4. 


CHAPTER, 


Ixxi 


rrow  island. 
Jinge.  The 
brd  deeper 
five  to  thirty 
er.  is  ii  verj 
I,  as  is  found 
The  tract 
Biy  diflerent 
may  be  sup- 
by  a  iia rural 
since  which 
eposited  the 
are  wanting 
irs  now  well 

int  has  been 
the  northern 
ilong  this  al- 
[ater,  and  its 
arais  des  Sa- 
ute clay,  un- 
the  sunken 
le  salt  lake 
V  brackish- 
to  some  of 
3il,  compact 


'^ 


forming  a 
le  river,  and 
V  lands  are 

Dnsiderable 
es  in  above, 
and  affirm 
It.  It  has 
o  salt  licks 


Although  many  of  these  licks,  by  digging,  furnish 
.water,  holding  marine  salt  in  solution,  there»exists  no 
reason  for  believing  that  any  of  them  would  produce 
nitre. 

Notwithstanding  this  low,  alluvial  tract  appears  in 
i  all  respects  well  adapted   to  the  growth  of  the  long 
r  moss,  or  Spa»iish  beard  (tilansia)  none  is  obtained  in 
the  thirty-third  degree  of  latitude. 

The  long  leaf  pine,  frequently  the  growth  of  rich 
and  even  inundated  land,  is  here  in  great  abundance. 
The  short  leaf  pitch  pine,  on  the  contrary,  is  general- 
ly found  upon  arid  land  and  frequently  in  sandy  and 
lofty  situations. 

Some  sand  beaches  and  rapids  are  higher  up;  there 
^  are   cane  brakes   on   both  sides  of  the  river.      The 
ranes  are  small,  but  demonstrate  that  the  water  does 
not  surmount  the  bank  more  than  a  few  feet. 

The  river  here  begins  to  widen.  Its  banks  show 
the  high  land  soil,  with  a  stratum  of  three  or  four 
feet  of  alluvion  deposited  by  the  river  upon  it.  Their 
superstratum  is  greyish  and  very  sandy,  with  a  small 
admixture  of  loam,  indicative  of  the  poverty  of  the  up- 
land and  mountains  in  which  the  river  rises. 

At  the  distance  of  a  few  miles  is  the  confluence  of 
the  little  Atipouse,  on  the  left  hand.  The  navigation 
of  the  Washita  is  much  impeded  by  numerous  rapids 
and  shoals. 

Coal  mines  are  to  be  found  on  the  north  west  side 
©fthe  river,  at   the  distance  of  one  mile   and  a  half 
from  its  banks,  and  a  saline  was  discovered   by  Dr. 
Hunter,  in  1804. 

It  is  situated  at  the  bottom  of  the  bed  of  a  deep 
gully.  The  surrounding  land  is  rich  and  well  timber- 
ed, but  subject  to  inundation;  except  an  Indian 
mound,  having  a  base  of  eighteen  or  one  hundred  fleet 
in  diameter  and  twenty  feet  high.      After  diggings 


i'll 


'^m 


I  1:    ''     "  ! 


^m. 


ixxii 


FRKLIMINARY 


about  three  feet,  through  the  clay,  he  came  to  quick 
sand  from  which  the  water  Howeil  in  abundance.  Its 
taste  was  saU  and  bitter,  resembling  that  of" sea  water. 
In  a  second  hole,  it  required  him  to  dig  six  feet  before 
he  reached  the  quick  sand :  in  doing  which,  he  struck 
several  pieces  of  Indian  pottery.  The  brine  yielded 
a  solid  mass,  by  evaporation,  of  ten  quarts  or  hall 
a  pound  in  weight,  when  dry.  It  is,  therefore,  of  the 
!5ame  strength,  as  the  "ater  of  the  ocean  on  our  coast, 
and  twice  that  of  the  famous  lick  in  Kentucky,  called 
Bullet's  lick,  and  Mank's  lick,  from  which  so  much 
salt  is  made. 

The  part  of  the  state  lying  north  of  Red  river  is 
interspersed  with  numerous  lakes  and  water  courses, 
and  presents  every  variety  of  soil,  from  the  low  inun- 
dated land,  to  the  highest  hills  in  Loiiisiana.  As  in 
the  lower  region  of  the  Mississippi,  the  margin  of  the 
rivers  if.  (with  the  exception  of  a  few  tracts  of  high 
cane  brake  land)  higher  than  that  in  the  rear,  taking  a 
soutlierndirection  with  that  noble  stream.  The  shores 
■oi  lake  Providence,  the  first  high  land  that  presents 
itself,  are  about  three  miles  west  frona  the  river.  That 
lake  is  evidently  an  ancient  bed  of  the  Missis- 
sippi; about  thirty  six  miles  due  south,  lake  St.  Jo- 
seph presents  the  same  appearance.  On  Bruine's  bay- 
ou,twelve  miles  south,  part  of  the  banks  are  sufficient- 
ly high  for  cultivation.  Lake  St.  John  is  not  far  from 
Concordia.  The  shores  of  both  these  lakes  are  part- 
ly cultivated ;  their  features  indicate  also  that  they 
formerly  were  beds  of  the  Mississippi.  From  Con- 
cordia to  the  mouth  of  Red  river,  the  land  descends 
suddenly  from  the  banks  into  what  makes  a  part  of 
the  Mississippi  swamp.  The  first  water  course  oi 
any  importance  running  west  of  and  ui  a  nearly  par- 
allel course  with  the  Mississippi  is  the  river  Tensa 


CHAPTER. 


Ixxiii 


me  to  quick 
idance.  lis 
of  sea  watpr. 
(  feet  before 
;h,  he  struck 
riiie  yielded 
irts  or  hall 
efore,  of  the 
on  our  coast, 
ucky,  called 
ich  so  much 


Red  river  is 
iter  courses, 
the  low  iiiun- 
iana.     As  in 
Qargin  of  the 
racts  ofhigh 
ear,  taking  a 
The  shores 
hat  presents 
river.  That 
he    Missis- 
lake  St.  Jo- 
kuine's  bay- 
e  suificient- 
not  far  from 
es  are  part- 
:;o  that  they 
From  Con- 
iid  descend* 
es  a  part  ol 
course  of 
nearly  par- 
river  Tensa 


which  uniting  with  the  bayou  Mason  runs  into  the  Wa- 
ahita.  The  Tensa  and  Mason  might  easily  be  made 
navigable  for  steam  boats,  which  have  already  ascen- 
ded ihe  Tensa  upwards  of  thirty  miles.  In  the  upper 
part  of  those  rivers,  the  land  is  high  in  many  places, 
chieHy  on  the  Mason  ;  the  land  is  rolling,  far  above 
high  water  mark,  but  not  sufficiently  elevated  to  merit 
the  appellation  of  hills.  Beautiful  specimens  of  cal- 
careous spath  have  been  brought  from  that  part 
of  the  country,  found  in  ploughing.  In  the  lower 
part  of  those  streams  the  land  is  low  and  unfit  lor  cul- 
tivation. Between  the  Mississippi  and  the  Tensa, 
bayous  intersect  the  swamp,  always  running  west  or 
aouthwestwardly;  lakes,  joined  the  one  to  the  other 
by  those  bayous,  are  scattered  over  it.  The  great 
est  part  of  those  lakes  becomes  dry  at  low  water,  and 
in  a  dry  autumn,  except  those  which  were  formerly 
beds  of  the  Mississippi.  These  retain  invariably  a 
considerable  quantity  of  water.  The  same  observa- 
tion applies  to  the  country  between  the  Mississippi 
and  Black  river,  which  empties  into  Red  river  thirty 
miles  above  its  mouth.  When  the  Mississippi  rolls  on 
its  full  tide,  those  bayous,  receiving  an  immense  addi- 
tion from  its  waters,  run  with  the  rapidity  of  torrents; 
chiefly  at  their  issue  from  the  Mississippi  into  the 
Tensa  and  river  Aux  Boeufs,  mixing  their  waters  with 
the  VVashita  and  Black  river,  and  carrying  back  in- 
to its  bosom  by  Red  river,  what  it  had  yielded  to 
them  above. 

The  head  waters  of  the  Tensa  are  at  or  near  lake 
Providence ;  the  Mason  heads  higher  up  and  wester- 

The  next  river  west  of  these  is  the  Aux  Boeufs,  thus 
called  by  the  first  hunters  (French)  on  account  of  the 
innumerable  herds  of  buffaloes  which  then  roamed  in 
th«  large  prairies  bordering  its  banks.     That  river 


M 


I 


•.'^1 


h 


\    :':|i' 


'<# 


,1  'I', 


.^li*. 


\l%'iv 


I'KELIIVlIirAKY 


has  its  rise  not  far  north  of  the  thirty-third  degree 
of  latitude,  in  the  territory  of  Arkansas.  The  middle 
part  of  its  course  presents  high  rich  land ;  it  gets  low- 
er towards  its  mouth,  near  which  it  is  overflowed  to 
the  Washita  river.  Between  river  Aux  Boeufs  and 
the  Mason  the  land  is  low,  with  here  and  there  a 
tract  of  high  rich  soil. 

West  of  river  Aux  Boeufs,  Barthelemy  river,  (often 
called  bayou)  is  a  considerable  stream  ;  it  heads  in 
the  territory  of  Arkansas,  and  empties  into  the  Wa- 
shita, thirty  miles  by  water  above  the  town  of  Mon- 
roe, the  only  re-union  ot  houses  or  hamlets  in  the  par- 
ish of  Washita.  The  land  on  that  bayou  is  high  on 
both  sides;  its  water  pure,  and  its  current  brisk, 
even  at  the  lowest  stage  of  water.  It  is  navigable 
f©r  barges  or  batteaux,  and  could  be  rendered  fit  for 
steam  boat  navigation  at  a  small  expense.  Among 
the  numerous  water  courses,  which  either  are  or  could 
easily  be  made  a  medium  of  water  communication,  from 
the  Mississippi  to  the  northwestern  part  of  the  state, 
it  will  ultimately  be  this  river,  which  will  be  Ibund  to 
afford  the  best,  the  easiest  and  the  most  important. 

Among  the  numerous  creeks  and  bayous  which  car- 
ry their  tribute  to  the  Washita  river,  bayou  Louie 
ought  not  to  be  forgotten ;  it  is  not  on  account  of  the 
extent  of  its  course,  but  on  account  of  the  land  on 
its  borders  or  adjacent  thereto.  It  comes  out  of  a 
lake  of  the  same  name,  the  western  and  northwestern 
banks  of  which  are  inhabited,  being  high  and  fertile. 
That  lake  and  bayou,  the  Washita,  river  Aux  Boeufs 
and  Turkey  creek  surround  the  high  land,  called  Si- 
oily  Island.  In  it  are  found  high  hills,  generally  much 
broken,  containing  sand  stones  and  some  silex  in  peb- 
bles; that  spot  is  the  most  remarkable  for  being  the 
only  one  covered  with  slight  hills  between  the  Missis- 
sippi and  Washita,  and  also,  because  it  appears  to 


^:i:.:;: 


OHAPTER. 


Ixxy 


bird  degree 
The  middle 
;  it  gets  low- 
verllowed  to 
L  Boeuts  and 
and  there  a 

river,  (often 
;  it  headB  in 
iito  the  Wa- 
own  olMon- 
s  in  the  par- 
)U  is  high  on 
Trent  brisk, 
is  navigable 
idered  fit  for 
ae.     Among 
are  or  could 
ication,  from 
of  the  state, 
be  Ibund  to 
mportant. 
s  which  car- 
)ayou  Louis 
ount  of  the 
he  land  on 
es  out  of  a 
jrthwestern 
and  fertile. 
Aux  Boeufs 
I,  called  Si- 
orally  much 
ilex  in  peb- 
r  being  the 
the  Missis- 
appears  to 


have  been  among  the  first  inhabited  by  the  French, 
who  settled  in  Louisiana,  who  probably  abandoned  it 
at  the  epoch  of  the  massacre  by  the  Natchez  Indians. 
It  is  about  thirty  miles  from  Concordia,  in  a  west  by 
north  direction.    French  axes  have  been  found  there, 
canon  balls,  even  mill  stones  and  iron  tools  much  dis- 
figured by  liist,  but  evidently  of  French  manufacture. 
The  next  stream,  to   which   all  those  mentioned 
above,  are  tributary  is  the  Washita ;  that  river  has 
its  source  in  the  territory  of  Arkansas,  in  the  rocky 
Mountains.      In  the  vicinity  of  its  head  waters  are 
found  the  celebrated  warm  springs.      It  runs  almost 
parallel  with  the  Mississippi.    At  the  mouth  of  the 
Tensa,  Little  riverorCatahoula  river,  arrives  from  ihe 
west.     The  Washita,  running  between  the  two,  takes 
their  additional  supply  at  the  same  place,in  its  course, 
but  there  loses  its  name  :  from  this  place  to  its  junc- 
tion with  Red  river,  during  a  meandering  course  of 
about  iVixty  miles,  it  assumes  the  name  of  Black  river, 
an   appellation  probably  derived  from  the  colour  of 
the  soil  through  which  it  runs;  the  fertility  of  which 
often  induced  emigrants  to  settle  on  its  banks :    but 
they   are  too  low;    very  few  years  elapse  without 
leeing    them   inundated;    they    are   now   deserted. 
Many  bayous  emp  y  their  waters  into  Black  river,  all 
rising  in  the  Mississippi   swamp,  and  at  high   water 
communicating  with  that  noble  stream.     The  largest 
is  bayou  Crocodile,  which  comes  out  of  lake  Concor- 
dia :   when  its  current  is  considerable,  the  largest  kind 
of  canoes,  have  navigated  it  to  Black  river. 

The  Washita  is  navigable  for  steam  boats  of  any 
burthen  during  six  or  eight  months  in  the  year,  as  tar 
as  the  town  ofMonroe,  a  distance  of  about  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  miles  from  its  mouth,  or  as  it  is  there 
called  the  mouth  of  Black  river.  Steam  boats  of  up- 
wards of  one  hundred  and  fifty  tons  have  ascended  it 


A    '!:\ 


•(.    : 


r 


i; 
1 


iirl 


.1   1    I'U 


w 


\xxvi 


FRELIMINARY 


more  than  two  hundred  miles  above  Monroe.  Fro» 
its  mouth  to  the  Mississippi,  the  hanks  of  Red  river 
are  low,  and  during  high  water  oflTer  nothing  to  the 
eye  but  an  immense  sea  covered  with  forests. 

The  features  of  the  country,  west  of  Washita  river, 
are  very  different  from  those  of  the  eastern  side  :  be- 
tween Washita  and  Red  river,  extensive  pine  hills, 
some  of  which  are  several  hundred  feet  high,  cover 
the  surface  of  the  earth,  nearly  as  far  south  as  the 
mouth  of  Little  river,  with  the  exception  of  the  bot- 
totns  of  creeks;  some  of  which  are  fertile  and  above 
inundation — others,  chiefly  near  their  mouth,  covered 
with  water  at  every  great  swelling  of  the  stream.  On 
that  side,  the  Mississippi  has  no  effect;  no  power, 
there  ceases  itsdominion, except  occasionally  when  at 
the  highest  stage,  it  recedes  on  Red  river,  and  Black 
river,  and  consequently  such  of  their  tributary 
streams,  the  entrance  of  which  are  situated  low  enough 
to  be  affected  by  this  retrograde  motion.  Such  is 
Little  river,  which  runs  through  a  lake  called  Catahou- 
la, almost  dry  at  low  water,  and  which  could  be  naviga- 
ted by  crafts  of  heavy  burthen,  when  the  adjacent 
low  land  is  inundated.  That  river  has  its  head 
waters  about  thirty  mile  south  of  the  33d  degree 
of  N.  latitude  ;  its  northernmost  branch  originates  at 
32  degrees  and  35  seconds;  it  then  takes  the  name  of 
Pogdemene  and  forms  the  boundary  between  Washi- 
ta and  Natchitoches  parishes.  It  retains  that  name  to 
its  junction  with  the  bayou  or  rather  creek  Castor, 
thence  it  is  called  Little  river,  in  the  same  manner 
as  the  Tensa,  Washita  and  Little  river,  uniting  at  one 
poijit,  form  Black  river. 

The  country,  through  which  Little  river  (some  times 
called  Catahoula  river)  runs,  wears  not  a  uniform  as- 
pect, sometimes  reaching  between  hills  bluffs  and 
banks,  then  strongly   dragging  its   waters  through 


.1 


t  ■• 


c;ha»'TER. 


hxvii 


)e.  Frowa 
Red  river 
ng  to  the 
ts. 

jhita  rivert 
side :  be- 
pine  hills, 
igh,  cover 
ith  as  the 
[)f  the  bot- 
and  above 
1,  covered 
earn.  On 
no  power, 
\y  when  at 
and  Black 
tributary 

ow  enough 

Such  is 

ICatahou- 

be  naviga- 

adjacent 

its  head 

3    degree 

gi nates  at 

le  name  of 

n  Washi- 

it  name  to 

k  Castor, 

e  manner 

ng  at  one 


s 


lands  inundated  from  one  and  a  half  to  three  miles  on 
O'H'h  side;  in  some  instances,  it  llows  through  rich 
bolfoms,  not  subject  to  inundation.  Its  navigation 
could  be  easily  improved,  and  no  doubt  will  be  so. 
when  its  banks  are  more  thickly  settled. 

.Several  largo  creeks  flow  between  Washita  and 
Little  river,  formed  by  innumerable  branches,  a  great 
proportion  of  which  are  never  failing  springs;  they 
only  swell  by  rains:  the  water  ruruiing  with  rapidity 
from  the  hills,  subsides  a  few  hours  after  the  rain 
ceases.  But  tew  countries  can  boast  of  being  better 
•upplif>d  with  good  water  than  the  tract  bounded 
north  by  the  3.3d  degree  of  latitude  west,  by  the  Dog- 
demene. south  by  Catahoula  lake  and  Little  river,  and 
east  by  the  Washita  river.  That  country  is  covered 
with  hills,  some  of  which  are  very  good  land,  especial- 
ly about  the  head  waters  of  baj'ouD'Arbonne  a  large 
creek,  which  empties  into  the  Washita  about  seven 
miles  above  iMorn'oe.  Between  its  mouth  and  that 
place,  the  bayou  Siard.  has  its  entrance  i*ito  the 
river.  It  may  not  be  amiss  to  observe  here  in 
order  to  find  the  true  meaning  of  the  words  bayoue 
and  creeks,  in  the  state  of  Louisiana;  the  early 
French  settlers  in  Louisianacalled  bayous,  small  bays; 
any  waier  course,  which  at  its  mouth  and  even  higher 
up  did  appear  like  stagnating  water,  was  called,  bay- 
ou, a  dimiimtive  of  bay.  The  appellation  would 
becorrectly  given  to  all  water  courses,  having  hardly 
any  current,  or  the  current  of  which  would  run  some 
times  to,  and  some  times  from,  the  river;  as  it  is  the 
case  with  a  great  many  in  this  section  of  the  state. 
When  the  river  is  lower  than  the  low  lands,  those 
bayous  run  into  the  river:  when  those  lands  are  dry 
and  the  river  rising,  they  run  from  it  with  equal  veloci- 
ty. Those  low  lands arelikr  reservoirs;  did  they  not 
exist,  lower  Louisiana  could  not  be  inhabited ;  itr 


I'i 


h   n; 


1-Ji 


I 


Uxviii 


PRELIMINARY 


would  yet  be  part  of  the  dominion  of  the  sea;  they 
retain  an  immense  quantity  of  water,  which  could  be 
calculated,  had  we  an  accurate  map  ol  the  8tate,8how- 
ing  miiiutely  ail  the  land  overflowed  and  to  what 
depth.  The  name  of  creek  could  be  given  (although 
its  true  signification  is  nearly  the  same  as  the  one  ex- 
pressed by  bayou  before)  to  all  water  courses  run- 
ning with  some  velocity  and  always  in  the  same  direc- 
tion. Thus  without  any  further  explanation  and  by 
the  bare  inspection  of  a  map,  it  would  be  under- 
stood, what  sort  of  stream  is  delineated  and  even  the 
elevation  of  the  land  it  runs  through.  Thus  we  would 
say  bayou  Siard,  Barthelemy  creek  or  river,  creek 
D'Arboime  until  it  meets  the  overflow,  thence  bayou 
D'Arbonne,  kc.  kc. 

The  bayou  Siard  has  two  entrances,  one  into  Bart- 
helemy, about  six  miles  east  from  its  mouth,  the  other 
into  Washita  river,  mentioned  before.  It  runs  to  and 
from  that  river,  according  to  the  stage  of  waters  in 
either  stream;  it  is  navigable  for  barges  some  dis- 
tance from  the  river  and  could  be  easily  made  so  for 
steam  boats ;  on  the  hills  between  Washita  and 
Dogdemene,  are  occasionally  very  sandy  stones, 
strongly  impregnated  with  oxid  of  iron,  siliceous  pro- 
bably. Plaster  of  Paris  is  found  at  a  distance  of  about 
ninety  miles  below  Monroe,  and  near  the  Washita, 
a  few  lime  stones  are  scattered  on  the  hills  adjacent 
to  those  containing  plaster  of  Paris.  In  the  same 
vicinity  and  in  the  deep  curbs  formed  by  the  swifl  run- 
ning branches,  have  been  found  petrified  shells  of 
several  kinds  of  bivalves,  also  of  belemitaand  cornua 
mmmonis. 

The  land  between  Catahoula  lake.  Little  river.  Black 
river  and  the  lower  part  of  Red  river  is  almost  ao 
uninterupted  overflow,  not  quite  as  low  as  the  Mis- 
sissippi swamp,  which  is  in  many  instances  more  than 


CHAPTKK. 


Ixxtx. 


be  uiider- 
J  evei)  the 
we  would 
ver,  creek 
[ice  bayou 

into  Bart- 
.  the  other 
uns  to  and 
waters  in 
some  dis- 
ade  so  for 
shita    and 
\y  stones, 
:eou8  pro- 
e  of  a  bout 
Washita, 
adjacent 
the  same 
swift  run- 
shells  of 
id  cornua 

ver,  Black 
almost  ao 
the  Mis- 
nore  than 


twenty  feet  below  high  water  mark ;  some  lakes  or 
poiHJs  are  scattered  over  that  country.  Those  ponds 
are  nothing  more  than  overflowed  land,  without  any 
timber.  Several  inundated  (ai  high  water)  prairit^s 
more  elevated  than  these  ponus,  arc  met  with  in  this 
section  of  the  state,  always  near  the  rivers,  and  often 
on  their  banks,  particularly  in  the  lower  parts  of 
Wnshita  and  Bceuf rivers.  Prairies  never  covered 
with  water  and  bordering  the  banks  of  Washita 
higher  up,  existed  formerly,  such  as  prairie  de  Lait, 
(yet  considerable)  prairie  du  Manoir,  de  Brin  d'a- 
mour,de3  Chiccts,desCanots, (where Monroe  is  built) 
(names  all  nearly  forgotten)  prairie  Chatellerault, 
prairie  Bonde,  on  Barthelemy  river.  These  are  now 
cultivated,  or  covered  with  timber;  a  circumstance 
which  never  fails  taking  place  as  soon  as  the  borders 
of  the  prairies  are  settled.  Those  named  Merrouge, 
Galleer,  Jefferson,  alias  4th  Prairie,  are  situated  far 
from  the  river,  about  east  north  east,  thirty  miles  from 
Monroe.  Higher  up,  on  the  bayou  Barthelemy,  are 
several  prairies  of  high  but  not  first  rate  land ;  they 
are  not  yet  inhabited.  In  the  parish  of  Catahoula,  ihe 
prairie  of  that  name  about  fifteen  miles  south  west 
from  Catahoula  courthouse,  called  also  Harrisonburg, 
is  some  time  inundated.  It  seems  to  have  been  former- 
ly part  of  the  lake  of  the  same  name.  Prairie  des  Bois, 
south  south  east  from  Monroe,  nine  miles  distant,  is 
also  subject  to  inundation.  Another  kind  of  prairie 
not  so  necessary,  are  those  found  on  the  summit  of  the 
hills — prairie  des  Cotes  is  one  of  that  description.  It 
lies  almost  due  south,  rather  westerly,  from  Monroe, 
distant  thirty-six  miles  in  a  straight  course ;  the  land 
there  is  poor,  but,  like  those  mentioned  above  afford 
very  good  pasturage  for  cattle.  The  direction  of  the 
hills  between  Washita  and  Dogdemene  is  rather 
from  north  to  south,  as  far  as  bavoii  Castor;  thev  after- 


..t; 


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m 


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ixxx 


PRELIMINARY 


wards  generally  run  from  rast  to  west.  The  valleys, 
which  separate  them,  are  evidently  Ihe  work  of  the 
watercourses,  thedireciions  of  which  are  alwaysfrom 
about  north  to  south,  the  hills  appearing  to  Ibliow  that 
cour8e,areatthe  lowest  end  but  very  short,  and  at  a 
bird's  eye  view,  have  the  appearance  of  having  been 
thrown  together  in  that  manner  by  the  waves  of  the 
sea,  which  probably,  at  some  remote  period,  roiled 
over  this  wliole  tract  of  country. 

The  settlements  of  Opelousas  are  separated  from 
those  of  Red  river,  by  a  ridge  of  piny  and  sterile  hills. 
These  are  succeeded  by  extensive  prairies,  which 
continue, without  any  important  interruption,  as  tiaras 
the  sea.  They  are  almost  entirely  destitute  of  trees, 
except  along  the  water  courses :  so  much  so,  that 
when  a  cluster  of  trees  is  accidentally  met  with,  it  is 
called  an  island.  The  facility  these  prairies  offer  in 
raisii'g  cattle,  had  induced  the  original  settlers  of 
Opelousas  and  Attakapas  to  prefer  the  pastoral  to 
the  agricultural  life.  Those  who  followed  them,  were 
invited  by  rich  spots  of  land  on  the  water  courses, 
to  the  cultivation  of  indigo  and  afterwards  cotton,  bC' 
sides  corn,  rice  and  other  provisions 

The  town,  near  the  parochial  church  of  Opelousas, 
dedicated  to  St.  Landry,  has  not  the  advantage  of 
standing  upon  navigable  water;  and  this  circum- 
stance has  contributed  to  check  its  growth.  It  has  a 
branch  of  the  Louisiana  bank. 

At  a  few  miles  below  it,  is  a  convent  of  nuns,  the 
inmates  of  which  devote  themselves  to  the  education 
of  young  persons  of  their  sex.  This  establishment 
is  a  new  one,  and  entirely  due  to  the  piety  of  a  lady 
of  the  neighbourhood. 

The  upper  part  of  the  settlements  of  Attakapas, 
which  he  between  Opelousas  and  the  sea.  difler 
very  little  from  the  former.     Emigrants  from  the  other 


t 


CHAPTER. 


Ixxxi 


states,  having  settled  on  the  land  near  the  sea,  have 
giveji  themselves  to  the  culture  of  the  sugar  cane, 
and  meet  with  jjreat  success. 

There  fire  ivvo  towns  in  the  Attakapas — St.  Martins, 
ville  and  FVaiiklin.  on  the  river  Teche,  which 
rises  in  the  Opelousas.  The  first,  though  not  con- 
siderahlf.  fias  a  weekly  gazette,  and  a  hranch  ot'llie 
state  bank,  a  church  and  the  other  public  build- 
ings of  the   pariish.      The  other  is  as  yet  an  embryo. 

The  Spaniards  made  an  abortive  attempt  to  estab- 
lish a  town,  called  New  Iberia,  about  sixteen  miles 
below  St.  Martinsville. 

The  prairies  in  this  part  of  the  state  are  not  natural 
ones  :  they  owe  their  oi  igin  to  the  Indian  practice  of 
Betting  tire  to  dry  grass  during  the  fall  and  winter,  in 
order  that  the  tender  herbage,  in  the  spring,  may 
attract  game ;  this  destroys  young  trees  and  the  prai- 
rie  annually  gains  on  the  woodland,  as  long  as  the 
practice  prevails.  When  it  ceases,  the  woodland 
gains  on  the  p'rairie. 

To  the  west  is  a  collection  of  houses  on  Vermilion 
river,  near  the  public  buildings  of  the  parish  of  La- 
fayette. 

Towards  the  sea,  near  the  base  of  the  delta  formed 
by  bayou  Latburche  and  the  Mississippi,  are  a  num- 
ber of  lakes,  the  principal  of  which  are  Barat^ria  and 
Salvador.  Of  the  streams  that  fall  into  the  gulf,  west 
of  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  the  most  important 
are  Latourche,  Achafalaya,  Teche,  Mentao,  Calcasu 
and  Sabine. 

All  the  space  between  these  streams,  near  the  gulf, 
is  ,  interspersed  with  trembling  prairies,  lagoons 
and  numerous  bayous.  Them  are,  however,  many 
spots  ot  high  ground;  but  the  difficulty  of  access  and 
distance  from  inhabited  tracts  have  prevented  migra- 
tionto  them.  l 


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-t-IH 


Ixxxii 


PRELIMINARY 


The  Teche  has  its  source  in  the  prairies,  in  the 
tipper  part  of  the  settlements  ot  Opelousas  and,  dur- 
ing the  season  of  hiiifh  water,  flows  partially  into  the 
Courtableau.  As  it  enters  the  settlements  of  Atla- 
kapas,  it  receives  from  the  i  ighl  side  bayou  Fusili«T, 
which  bayou  Bourbeux  connects  with  Vermilion 
river.  A  little  more  than  twenty  miles  fan  her,  it 
passes  before  thetown  of  St. Martinsville  and  reac;hes, 
fifteen  miles  after,  the  spot  on  which  tho  Spaniards, 
soon  after  the  cession,  made  a  vain  altornpt  to  estab- 
lish a  city  to  which  the  name  of  ^pw  Iberi:!  uas  des- 
tined ;  twenty  miles,  from  the  moutli  olthe  Teche,  is 
the  town  of  Franklin. 

Above  St.  Martinsville,  cotton  is  universally  culti- 
vated on  the  banks  of  the  Tec'lie:  belou  it.  aro  a 
number  of  sugar  plantations,  wljich  succeed  remarka- 
bly well.  The  low  price  of  cotton  has  of  late  in<luced 
many  of  the  planters  to  attempt  the  culture  of  the 
cane,  above  St.  Martinsville,  even  as  high  as  ba^ou 
Bteuf. 

On  the  east  ofthe  Teche  and  between  that  stream  and 
the  Achafalaya,  is  Prairie  Grand  Chevreuil  occupy- 
ing the  ground  beyond  the  reach  of  inundatioii.  On 
the  opposite  side,  and  to  the  east  of  Vernniijo  f'ver 
is  the  Attakapas  prairie;  the  land  of  which,  ebpe<:ially 
on  the  banks  ofthe  latter  stream,  is  oi  good  quality 
and  well  adapted  to  the  culture  of' sugar,  cotton,  in- 
digo, tobacco  and  corn 

The  Vermilion  river  has  its  source  in  the  upper 
part  of  the  Opelousas  settlenjents :  between  it  and 
the  Mentao  is  the  Opelousas  prairie,  which  is  more 
extensive,  than  the  two  just  mentioned;  being  about 
seventy-five  miles  in  length  and  twepty  five  in  breadth 
Its  direction  is  S  W.  to  N.  E.  It  affords  an  extensive 
range  for  cattle. 

The  Mentao  and  Calcasu  rise  near  the  sandy  ridge 


GHAPTBR. 


IxxxiU 


*     fit 

'  »\ 

,  ,  I,, 
i 


separating  the  settlements  of  Red  river  from  those  of 
Opelousas.  These  streams  are  nearly  parallel  to  the 
Vermilion  and  Sabine.  The  land  on  their  banks  is 
of  leas  fertility  than  near  ihe  Missivssippi.  Agricultu- 
ral establishments  are  rare,  and  the  few  settlers 
confine  their  attention  to  raising  cattle. 

At  the  mouth  of  Sabine  river,  where  the  western 
boundary  of  the  State  begins,  the  country  exhibits  a 
wild  state  of  desolation.  A  line  of  shell  banks  extends 
along  the  shores  of  the  lake,  into  which  the  river  ex- 
pands, at  ttie  distance  of  twenty  miles  from  its  mouth; 
they  are  covered  with  trees  of  a  stunted  growth.  The 
country  around  is  a  morass  to  the  distance  of  twenty 
miles  above  the  lake. 

The  whole  coast  from  the  Mississippi  to  the  Sabine, 
as  from  the  former  stream  to  Pearl  river,  is  low  and 
swampy,  and  except  in  a  v^ry  few  places  indeed,  can 
only  be  approached  through  the  water  courses. 


I 


fJlloa,  Lorimer,  Dunbar,  Siblty,  Htuitis-. 


Ill 


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OF 


lt(DW3@liiH«a< 


('.  4,, 


CHAPTER  1. 

Discovery  of  America. — Charles  VIII. — Henry   VII. — 

Ferdinand  and  Isabella. — Cabot Prima  vista. — Lewis 

XII. — Denys.—-Aubert. — Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence, — 
Indians  carried  to  France. — Henry  VIII. — Francis  I. 
Ponce  de  Leon. — Florida. — T%e  Baron  de  Levy. — 
Sable  Island. —  Vasquez  de  Jiillon. —  Velasquez. —  Ve- 
ranzany. — JYarvaez. — Apalachians.  —  The  peace  of 
Cambray.^-^Cartier. — River  of  St.  Lawrence. — Her- 
nandez de  Soto. — Chickaaaws. — Jilabamas. — Mobi- 
Harts. — Choctaws. — The  Mississippi. — Red  River. — 
Robertval. — Canada. — Luis  de  Muscoso. — Los  Va- 
queros. — Edward  VI. —  Henry  II. — Mary. — Philip  II. 
Elizabeth. — Charles  IX. — Coligny. — Ribaud. — CarO' 
line. — Albert. — BarrS. — Laudonniere. — Sir  John  Haw- 
kins.— Pedro  de  Menendez. — St.  Augustine. — Destruc- 
tion of  the  French  Colony. — De  Gourgues. — Henry  III. 
Sir  Humphrey  Gilbert. — Sir  Walter  Raleigh. — Oca- 
cock. — Vtrginia. — Sir  Richard  GrenviUe. — De  la 
Roche. — Acadie.  -, 

CHARLES  the  eighth,  the  sevonth  monarch  of 
the  house  of  Valois,  wielded  the  sceptre  of  France, 
and  Henry  the  seventh  that  of  England,  in  1492, 
when  Columbus,  under  the  auspices  of  Ferdinand  of 


m 


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» 


f*: 


ill 


1^  ^;i 


.*•». 


CHAPTER 


[M'J^. 


Aragon  and  Isabella  of  Castile,  discovered  the  west 
tern  hemisphere. 

Charles,  during  a  reign  of  nineteen  years,  sought 
military  glory,  and  an  extension  of  territory,  in  the 
invasion  of  Italy.  Success,  for  a  while  attended  his 
arms,  and  with  the  aid  of  the  Pope,  he  caused  himself 
to  be  crowned  Emperor  of  Constantinople  and  King 
of  Naples;  but,  he  was  soon  driven  back,  and 
died  in  1496,  the  fiftieth  year  of  his  age,  without 
having  ever  sought  to  avail  himself  of  the  advantages 
the  discovery  of  the  new  world  offered.  Less  am- 
bitious of  warlike  fame,  Henry  made  an  early  effort 
to  share  them.  He  fitted  out  a  small  ileet,  the  com- 
mand of  which  he  gave  to  Cabot,  a  Venetian  adven- 
turer, settled  in  Bristol,  whom  he  sent  on  a  voyage 
of  discovery.  No  historical  record  informs  us  of  the 
success  of  this  expedition;  but  in  1496,  this  naviga- 
tor sailed  in  a  ship  furnished  by  the  crown  and  four 
barques,  supplied  by  the  merchants  of  Bristol.  He 
discovered  a  large  island,  to  which  he  gave  the 
name  of  Prima  vista.,  now  known  by  that  of  New- 
foundland and  soon  after  the  continent.  He  sailed 
southwardly  along  the  coast,  as  far  as  the  bay  of 
Chesapeake.  It  is  not  known  that  he  effected  or 
even  attempted  a  landing,  and  the  occular  posses- 
sion he  took  of  the  country  is  the  origin  and  basis  of 
the  claim  of  the  English  nation  to  all  the  land  in 
North  America,  irom  the  Atlantic,  to  the  Pacific 
Ocean. 

Charles  the  eighth,  having  left  no  issue,  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Louis  the  twelfth,  a  distant  kinsman; 
their  common  ancestor  being  Charles  the  seventh,  the 
grandfather  ol'  the  deceased  monarch.  Louis  con- 
tinued the  war  in  Italy  with  the  same  spirit,  and  with 
as  little  success  as  his  predecessor;  and  viewed  the 


go 


161:^] 


THi:  FIRST. 


8 


:% 


progress  of  the  Spaniards  in  America  with  equal  un- 
concern. His  subjects,  however,  extended  their  in- 
dustry and  their  commerce  to  tlie  new  world.  In 
l.'J04,  the  Biscayans,  the  Bretons  and  the  Normans, 
visited  Newfoundland,  in  quest  of"  fish.  Two  years 
aft*^r,  Denys  entered,  and  made  a  map  of",  the  Gulf  of" 
St.  Lawrence;  and  in  1508,  Aubert  carried  over  the 
first  American  Indians,  who  trod  the  soil  of  France. 
The  crown  of  England  in  the  following  year,  passed, 
on  the  death  of  Henry  the  seventh,  in  his  fifty  second, 
to  his  son  Henry  the  eighth. 

The  southernmost  part  of  the  continent  of  North 
America,  was  first  discovered  by  a  Spanish  adven- 
turer in  1513.  Not  impelled  by  avarice  or  ambition, 
but  led  by  credulity  and  chance.  Ponce  de  Leon, 
believing  that  the  island  of  Binimi,  in  the  archipela- 
go  of  Bahama,  possessed  a  fountain,  the  waters  of 
which  had  the  virtue  of  repairing  the  ravages  of 
time  on  the  human  frame,  sailed  from  the  island  of 
Porto  Rico,  in  search  of  this  renovating  stream.  A 
violent  storm  disappointed  his  hopes,  and  threw  him 
on  the  cape,  opposite  to  the  northern  side  of  the 
island  of  Cuba.  He  called  the  country  thus  disco- 
vered Florida,  either  from  its  flowery  appearance,  or 
from  the  circumstance  of  his  having  discovered  it  on 
Palm  Sunday,  Pasqua  de  Flores.  Erecting  a  large 
cross  on  the  beach,  he  took  formal  possession  in  the 
name  of  his  sovereign,  Charles  the  first  of  Spain,  the 
grandson  of  Isabella,  the  late  Queen  of  Castile.  He 
returned  in  the  following  year  and  landed  on  the 
same  spot,  with  a  number  of  his  countrymen ;  but 
the  natives  fell  on  the  intruders  and  killed  them  ail 
but  six,  who  were  grievously  wounded.  The  chief 
was  among  the  latter.  He  sailed  for  the  island  of 
Cuba,  where  he  and  his  five  surviving  companions 
died  of  their  wounds. 


Rm 

Hill 

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Vi.,  .1, 


.*•». 


CHAPTER 


[1520 


Louis  the  twelfth  died  on  the  first  of  January 
1515»  the  fifty  third  year  of  his  age,  ^vithout  issue. 
His  successor  was  Francis  the  first;  their  com- 
mon ancestor  was  the  Duke  of  Orleans,  a  brother  of 
Charles  the  sixth. 

The  first  attempt  of  the  French  to  plant  a  colony 
in  America,  was  made  in  the  second  year  of  Francis* 
reign.  A  few  adventurers  of  that  nation,  were  led 
by  the  Baron  de  Levy  to  the  small  island,  in  the 
forty  fourth  degree  of  northern  latitude,  now  known 
as  Sablie  Island,  part  of  the  province  of  Nova  Scotia. 
The  spot  was  most  unfavourable ;  at  a  great  dis- 
tance from  the  continent,  or  any  other  island ;  the 
soil  is  rocky  and  sterile.  These  men  were  unable  to 
derive  their  subsistence  from  it.  They  suffered  much 
from  the  cold;  many  sickened  and  died.  The  Baron 
carried  back  the  survivors  to  France,  leaving  some 
cattle  and  hogs  on  the  island. 

In  1.520,  Vasquez  de  Aillon  sailed  from  Hispaniola 
for  the  northern  continent,  with  views  not  quite  so 
unexceptionable  as  those  of  Ponce  de  Leon.  His 
object  was  to  seize  some  of  the  Indians,  transport 
them  to  Hispaniola  and  sell  them  to  his  countrymen, 
who  could  not  obtain  from  Africa  a  sufficient  num- 
ber of  negroes  to  work  the  mines.  He  made  land 
on  the  coast  of  the  present  state  of  South  Carolina, 
near  the  mouth  of  a  river  to  which  he  gave  the  name 
of  Jourdain,  atler  a  man  on  board  of  one  of  his 
ships,  who  first  descried  it ;  it  now  bears  that  of 
Santee.  He  was  received  with  hospitality:  after 
staying  awhile,  and  supplying  himself  with  provis- 
ions, he  invited  a  number  of  the  natives  to  a  ban- 
quet on  board  of  his  ships,  made  them  dance  at  the 
sound  of  his  trumpets,  plying  them  with  abundant 
doses  of  ardent  spirits.  When  exercise  and  ebriety 
had   lulled   their    senses,  he  hoisted   his  sails  and 


1925] 


tub:  first 


brought  off  Ills  unwary  guests.  Heaven  did  not 
allow  him  to  reap  the  fruits  of  his  treachery.  One 
ot  the  ships  perished  in  a  storm.  The  sturdy  cap- 
tives in  the  other,  tor  a  'ong  while,  re'used  to  take 
any  food ;  the  voyage  was  long,  and  disease  made  a 
great  havoc  among  the  Spaniards  and  the  Indians. 

Velasquez  made  another  voyage  to  Florida  in 
1552,  with  two  ships:  he  was  quite  unsuccessful. 
He  lost  one  of  the  ships,  and  the  Indians  killed  a 
great  part  of  his  people. 

Veranzany,  a  Florentine,  employed  by  Francifc 
the  first,  appears  to  have  been  the  first  navigator, 
who  visited  America  at  the  expense  of  the  crown  of 
France.  He  reached  it  in  the  month  of  March 
1524,  a  little  below  Cape  Hatteras,  near  the  spot 
on  which  sixty  years  after,  the  first  attempt  towards 
English  colonization  in  America  was  made,  und^* 
the  auspices  and  at  the  cost  of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh. 
He  sailed  up  the  coast,  as  far  as  the  fiftieth  degree 
of  northern  latitude,  entered  a  few  of  the  rivers,  had 
some  little  intercourse  with  the  aborigines,  by 
whom  he  was  every  where  friendly  received,  and  re- 
turned to  France,  without  any  attempt  towards  a 
settlement. 

He  made  other  voyages,  in  the  two  following 
years,  and  it  is  supposed  perished  in  the  last. 

The  misfortunes  of  Francis,  made  a  prisoner  at 
Pavie,  his  long  captivity  in  Spain,  and  his  distresses 
till  the  peace  of  Cambray,  prevented  the  execution 
of  the  plan  he  had  formed  of  planting  a  French  co^ 
lony  in  the  new  world. 

Pamphilo  de  Narvaez,  having  obtained  trom 
Charles  the  first  of  Spain,  the  government  of  all  the 
countries  he  could  discover  from  Rio  de  Palma,  to 
the  undefined  limits  of  Florida,  sailed  from  the 
rsland  of  Cuba,  with  four  ships  and  a  barq^iie   in 


I  .^ 


li 


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.i^f 


jt' 


m 


4 


m. 


CHAl'TEU 


[16Sfti 


March  1528,  >v'ith  four  luiiidred  foot  and  eighty 
horse,  lie  landed  near  the  bay  del  Spiritr  Santo, 
called,  in  modern  times,  the  bay  ot  Tampa,  llif 
Indians  cheerfully  supplied  him  with  corn  and  other 
provisions.  He  landed  a  part  of  his  forc^  and  took 
solemn  possession  of  the  country,  in  the  name  of  his 
imperial  master.  Noticing,  at  this  ceremony,  a 
cymbal  of  ^old,  in  the  hands  of  an  Indian,  his  hope 
of  securing  a  large  quantity  of  this  metal  was  greatly 
excited.  He  was  told  that  the  Apalachians,  a  nation 
not  far  distant,  had  much  ol  it.  Under  the  iniluence 
of  the  excitement  which  the  information  created,  he 
putthe  shipping  under  the  orders  of  Cabecade  Vacca, 
with  directions  to  sail  along  the  coast ;  he  landed  the 
rest  of  his  force,  and  marched  up  the  country  the 
last  day  of  May.  On  the  next,  he  crossed  a  river, 
on  the  banks  of  which  was  a  town,  where  the  In- 
dians supplied  him  with  provisions.  He  ranged  the 
country  for  several  days,  without  meeting  a  human 
being;  at  last  he  overtook  a  chief  preceded  hymen 
blowing  flutes,  and  followed  by  a  large  party.  He 
gave  them  to  understand,  he  was  going  towards  the 
Apalachians ;  the  chief  told  him  these  Indians  were 
at  war  with  his  nation :  Narvaez  travelled  with  him 
to  his  village,  in  which  he  was  hospitably  enter- 
tained. Proceeding,  he  reached  on  the  25th  the 
first  village  of  the  Apalachians,  which  consisted  of 
about  forty  cabins.  He  took  possession  of  it  with- 
out opposition,  and  found  corn,  venison  and  skins ; 
but  no  metal.  He  sojourned  near  tliis  village  for 
several  days,  making  occasional  excursions  into  the 
country;  during  which,  he  had  frequent  skirmishes 
with  the  natives,  who  darted  their  arrows  at  his 
people  and  hid  themselves  in  the  swamps.  At  last 
destitute  of  provisions,  seeing  nothing  but  a  sterile 
country  and   unpassable  roads,  he  determined   on 


1634] 


rilK  FIRST. 


marching  towards  the  soa,  ami  loaclu'd  Aulc,  an 
Indian  town,  not  tar  distant  from  the  spot  on  wliich 
thr  Spaniards  afterwards  erected  the  fort  of  St. 
Mark  of  the  Apalaehes.  The  Indians  followed  on 
the  flanks  of  their  invatlers,  harrassiiig  tiiem  at  times 
by  clouds  of  arrows.  Their  countrymen  at  Aute, 
strongly  dclended  themselves  and  killed  a  number 
of  Spaniards.  Cabeca  de  Vacea  approached  the 
coast,  and  Narvnez  and  his  men  took  hipping;  but 
the  greatest  part  perished  through  fatigue,  hunger, 
disease  and  shipwreck.  Those  who  escaped  these 
complicated  disasters,  reached  Kio  dc;  Falma.  Nar- 
vaez  was  not  among  them ;  his  vessel  foundered  in  a 
storm  and  he  never  was  heard  of. 

Francis, having  married  his  rival's  sister,  and  reteas- 
ed  his  sofis,  detained  as  hostages  in  Spain,  availed 
himself  of  the  tranquillity  that  follow  ed  the  peace  of 
Cambray,  to  resume  his  plan  of  adding  a  part  of 
America  to  -his  dominions. 

For  this  purpose,  he  directed  two  barques  of  sixty 
tons,  with  one  hundred  and  fifty  men,  to  be  fitted 
out  at  St.  Maloes,  and  gave  the  command  of  them 
to  Cartier,  who  sailed  on  the  30th  of  April  1534. 
He  reached  Bonavista  in  the  island  of  Newfound- 
land in  twenty  days,  crossed  the  gulf  and  entered 
a  bay,  which  from  the  extreme  heat  at  the  time,  he 
called  Chaleur  bay  ;  it  is  a  little  to  the  south  of  the 
mouth  of  the  river  St.  i.awrence.  Two  sailors  (the 
wretched  remnant  of  the  crew  of  a  Spanish  ship, 
which  had  been  wrecked  there)  were  wandering 
on  the  beach,  when  Cartier's  boat  approached.  The 
French  inquired  what  country  they  were  in ;  one  ot 
the  Spaniards,  who,  being  pressed  by  hunger,  ima- 
gined he  was  asked  whether  there  was  any  thing 
to  eat,  replied,  Aca  nada;  "  there  is  nothing  here." 
The  French  in  the  boat,  on  retinninir  to  Cartier. 


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Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


C/. 


CHAPTER 


[1635 


told  him  the  Spaniard  said  the  country  was  called 
Canada.  Cartier  visited  several  parts  of  the  gulf, 
and  took  possession  of  the  country  for  the  crown  of 
France. 

The  king,  on  the  return  of  Cartier,  ordered  a  new 
expedition,  consisting  of  three  ships;  the  largest, 
commanded  by  Cartier,  was  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  tons ;  they  sailed  on  the  1 9th  of  May  1 535. 
On  reaching  the  continent,  Cartier  was  obliged  by 
stress  of  weather,  to  put  into  a  port  which  he  called 
St.  Nicholas.  He  gave  the  name  of  St.  Lawrence  to 
the  gulf  and  the  river;  leaving  the  two  small  vessels 
at  the  mouth  of  the  stream,  he  proceeded  to  an  In- 
dian town  called  Hochelaga,  near  the  spot  on  which 
the  city  of  Montreal  now  stands.  The  friendly  re- 
ception the  Indians  gave  him,  induced  him  to  send 
ibr  the  vessels  he  had  left,  and  to  build  a  number  of 
cabins,  which  he  surrounded  with  a  strong  palisa- 
do,  that  might  enable  him  to  resist  a  sudden  attack ; 
and  he  made  other  preparations  to  winter  there. 
The  season  proved  extremely  severe,  and  the  scurvy 
broke  out  among  his  men ;  he  was  himself  attacked 
by  it.  Twenty-five  of  his  people  had  already  per- 
ished, and  two  alone  escaped  the  disease,  when  a 
specific  remedy  was  pointed  out  by  the  Indians,  in  a 
decoction  of  the  bark  of  the  Mies  Canadensis^  (the 
Canadian  fir.)  Eight  days  after  it  had  been  resort- 
ed to,  Cartier  found  all  his  men  perfectly  recovered. 
Some  who  had  been  afflicted  with  another  disease, 
and  had  been  but  partially  cured,  were  perfectly 
restored  to  health  by  the  use  of  this  specific.  In 
the  spring,  Cartier  brought  back  such  of  his  men  as 
the  fell  disorder  had  spared ;  but  nothing  more  was 
done  in  Francis' reign,  towards  the  settlement  of  a 
French  colony  in  America. 

Two  years  after,  Charles  the  first  of  Spain  gave 


1537J 


THE  FIRST. 


the  government  of  St.  Yago  de  Cuba  to  Hernandez 
de  Soto,  with  permission  to  prosecute  the  discovery 
of,  and  subjugate,  Florida;  and  on  the  twelfth  of 
May  of  the  following  year,  he  sailed  from  the  Ha- 
vana with  an  army  of  nine  hundred  foot  and  three 
hundred  and  fifty  horse.  The  fleet  was  equipped 
and  the  naval  and  land  forces  raised  and  supported 
at  Soto's  expense.  He  had  amassed  considerable 
wealth  in  Peru,  in  the  conquest  of  which  he  had 
accompanied  Pizarro.  The  fleet  was  delayed  by 
contrary  winds,  and  at  last  reached  the  bay  in  which 
Narvaez  had  landed  eleven  years  before.  Three 
hundred  men,  having  landed  and  marched  a  short 
distance,  were  repelled  with  great  loss.  Soto  now 
disembarked  his  horse  and  foot,  and  sent  back  the 
large  vessels.  He  proceeded  northerly,  his  march 
being  retarded  by  frequent  interruptions  from  the 
natives,  who  hung  on  his  flanks;  and  he  halted  at 
Herriga,  the  first  town  he  came  to,  at  the  distance  of 
six  miles  from  the  shore.  He  spent  some  days  there, 
to  give  time  to  the  baggage  to  come  up  and  afford 
some  rest  to  his  men,  and  began  his  march  for  the 
country  of  the  Apalachians,  which  was  at  the  dis- 
tance of  about  four  hundred  miles.  The  country 
was  divided  into  small  districts,  each  governed  by  a 
cacique ;  the  chief,  the  district  and  its  principal 
town,  generally  bearing  the  same  name.  The  town 
was  a  collection  of  from  fifty  to  two  hundred  houses ; 
surrounded  by  a  strong  palisado.  Garcilasso  de  la 
Vega,  in  his  history  of  this  expedition,  has  recorded 
the  names  of  the  towns  through  which  Soto  passed, 
from  the  bay  del  Spiritu  Santo  to  the  Apalachians. 
They  are  many,  but  it  is  believed  the  name  of  none 
of  them  corresponds  with  that  of  any  of  the  present 
divisions  of  the  country.     Two  of  the  principal  dis- 


'Sm 


•.:^1J 


m 


LOU.  U 


I'.- 


'"  '  i 


10 


CHAPTER 


[1537 


m  I- 


^'  M 


tricts,  or  provinces,  were  governed  by  a  female 
cacique.  After  advancing  into  the  country,  Soto's 
progress  ceased  to  be  obstructed  and  at  several 
towns  he  was  hospitably  received,  and  obtained 
abundant  supplies  ol*  corn  and  venison.  One  of  the 
female  caciques  added  to  this  needed  succour,  pre- 
sents of  pearls.  If  we  credit  Garcilasso,  these  pre- 
sents in  the  quantity  and  value  of  the  pearls,  were 
Immense ;  they  were  often  as  large  as  hazel  nuts  and 
were  dealt  out  by  the  bushel,  except  those  of  the 
smallest  kind,  called  seed  of  pearls^  which  were 
weighed.  But  this  writer  speaks  of  lions  in  the 
forests  of  Florida,  and  of  a  number  of  caciques,  who 
commanded  several  thousands  of  warriors.  It  is 
believed  those  who  furnished  this  Indian  author 
with  the  memoirs  on  which  he  wrote,  were  less  fond 
of  truth  than  of  the  marvellous. 

Several  caciques  opposed  the  passage  of  the  Span- 
iards through  the  country,  but  none  could  resist, 
with  bows  and  arrows,  an  army  with  musketry  and 
artillery.  By  courtesy,  threats  and  violence,  Soto 
made  his  way  to  the  country  of  the  Apalachians. 
There,  after  taking  some  rest,  a  part  of  his  army  was 
sent  in  strong  detachments  to  reconnoitre  the 
ground ;  while  the  rest  proceeding  south-westerly, 
reached  jiute,  a  town,  near  the  sea  shore,  which  Na- 
vaez  had  visited.  There,  this  party  dividing  itself 
in  two  detachments,  one  of  them  marched  westerly 
to  Anchusi,  another  large  town,  on  the  spot^n  which, 
about  a  century  and  a  half  after,  was  built  the  town 
of  Pensacola;  while  the  latter  proceeding  at  fir^t 
easterly,  then  southerly,  reached  the  bay  in  which 
the  army  had  landed,  from  which  one  of  the  small 
vessels  was  sent  to  Cuba,  with  an  account  of  Soto's 
progress,  and  to  obtain  supplies. 

The    two    detachments    uniting   again    at    Aute. 


1639  J 


THE  FIRST. 


IS 


joined  the  main  body  at  the  Apalachians,  where 
Soto  had  determined  on  wintering. 

The  army  resumed  its  march  early  in  the  spring ; 
its  direction  was  at  first  north-westerly;  passings 
through  the  back  parts  of  the  present  state  of  Geor- 
gia, it  marched  for  some  time  northerly,  then  north- 
westerly through  the  country  of  the  Cherokees,  then 
a  large  and  warlike  nation,  crossing  the  present  state 
of  Tennessee  and  proceeding  to  that  of  Kentucky, 
as  high  up  as  the  thirty  seventh  degree  of  northern 
latitude.  It  marched  thence  south-westerly  to  the 
bay  of  Mobile,  Of  the  Indians  thus  visited  by  Soto, 
the  Tuscaloosas,  Mobilians  and  Alabamans,  are  thc- 
only  ones  who,  at  this  day  retain  their  names. 
The  Mobilians  made  a  furious  resistance,  but  were 
at  last  overpowered.  Garcilasso  reckons  they  lost 
in  several  skirmishes,  a  pitched  battle  and  the  de- 
fence of  their  principal  town,  upwards  of  eleven 
thousand  men,  and  that  more  than  one  thousand 
women  were  burnt  in  a  single  house.  Soto,  having 
subdued  the  Mobilians,  gave  one  month's  rest  to  his 
army ;  then  continued  his  march  to  the  Chickasaws, 
among  whom  he  wintered. 

A  party  of  these  Indians  attacked  him  at  night,  in 
the  latter  part  of  January  following,  by  torch  light. 
The  torches  were  formed  of  a  grass,  which  made 
into  a  rope,  takes  and  retains  fire  like  a  match. 
The  Chickasaws  darted  arrows,  armed  with  this 
grass  thus  lighted,  on  the  huts  of  their  invaders,  prin- 
cipally those  used  as  stables,  thus  setting  the  proven- 
der on  fire ;  several  horses  were  burnt  at  their  man- 
gers, to  which  they  were  made  last  wfth  small  chains. 
The  Indians,  hovering  round  their  enemy,  became 
visible  only  when  they  agitated  their  torches.  The 
musketry,  artillery  and  cavalry,  however,  soon  com- 
pelled them  to  disperse;  the  Spaniards  had  forty 


f:1 


''I 


yi 


CHAPTER 


[1539 


mk'<  1,' 


men  ami  til'ty  horses  killed  in  this  attack.  Soto  re- 
moved his  camp  to  what  he  conceived  a  more  de- 
lensiblc  spot,  about  three  miles  to  the  west.  But 
notwithstanding  his  utmost  vigilance  and  the  alert- 
ness of  his  men,  the  army,  while  it  remained  in  the 
country  of  the  Chickasaws  was  incessantly  harrassed 
by  hovering  parties,  and  every  individual  who  strag- 
gled to  any  distance  from  the  camp,  was  almost  in- 
stantly made  a  prisoner  or  killed. 

Early  in  April,  Soto  marched  north-westerly  thro' 
the  country  of  the  Choctaws,  and  the  western  parts 
of  the  present  states  of  Mississippi  and  Tennessee. 
He  reached  the  mighty  stream,  then  called  by  the 
Indians  Cicuaga  and  now  Mississippi,  a  little  below 
the  lowest  Chickasaw  bluff.  Having  employed  some 
time  in  building  Hats,  he  overcame  without  much 
difficulty  the  opposition  made  by  the  Indians  to  his 
crossing  it.  On  the  western  bank,  he  proceeded  as 
high  up  as  White  River,  and  then  downwards  in  a 
circuitous  route,  to  avoid  the  swampy  shore,  through 
the  present  territory  of  the  Arkansas,  to  his  winter 
quarters.  On  the  left  side  of  the  Mississippi,  the 
Spaniards  met  with  the  same  reception  from  the  In- 
dians, as  on  the  opposite.  At  times  the  natives 
were  confident  and  friendly,  at  others  reserved,  often 
cruel  and  treacherous,  rarely,  though  some  times,  ap- 
proaching in  hostile  array. 

Ill  the  spring,  the  army  proceeded  southerly  by 
slow  marches ;  but  in  the  beginning  of  the  summer, 
fatigue,  dearth  of  provisions,  the  intense  heat  and  the 
impure  air  of  the  swamps,  greatly  injured  the  health 
of  the  Spaniards ;  many  sickened  and  died.  At 
last  after  long  and  frequent  halts,  the  army  reached 
the  mouth  of  Red  River.  Here  the  chief  was  seized 
with  a  fever,  the  mortal  character  of  which  became 
manifest  in  a  few  days.     It  was  not  long  before  he 


cm 


1640] 


THE  FIRST. 


became  conscious  of  his  situation,  and  he  contem- 
plated approaching  dissolution  with  composure. 
He  appointed  Luis  Muscoso  de  Alvarado  his  suc- 
cessor, calmly  conversed  with  his  officers  on  the 
most  proper  movements  of  the  army,  had  almost  all 
the  individuals  in  it  brought  to  his  bed  side,  received 
their  oaths  of  "fidelity  to  the  future  chief,  recommend- 
ed to  the  men  obedience  to  him,  and  affection  to 
each  other,  discipline,  unanimity  and  perseverance. 
Then,  giving  his  remaining  moments  to  the  rites  of 
the  church  of  Rome,  expired  about  the  30th  of  June. 

He  was  in  his  forty  second  year.  Ambitious  to  have 
his  name  as  conqueror  of  Florida,  in  the  page  of 
history,  between  those  of  Cortez  and  Pizarro,  the 
conquerors  of  Mexico  and  Peru,  he  spent  in  this 
scheme  an  immense  fortune,  acquired  in  the  con- 
quest of  the  latter  kingdom,  and  was  the  indiscreet 
cause  of  the  death  of  the  greatest  portion  of  his  fol- 
lowers, without  any  advantage  to  his  country  or 
himself.  In  republics,  as  wealth  is  seldom  acquired 
with  great  rapidity  and  ease,  and  is  more  generally 
divided,  it  is  seldom  so  profusely  lavished,  and  it 
rarely  enables  the  possessor  to  command  the  sa- 
crifice of  the  lives  of  men  to  his  ambitious  views. 

His  remains  were  inclosed  in  a  strong  coffin, 
which  was  filled  with  bullets  and  sunk  in  the  Missis- 
sippi, opposite  to  the  mouth  of  Red  Uiver,  to  pre- 
vent them  from  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  Indians. 

In  the  meanwhile,  the  plan  of  settling  a  colony  in 
Canada,  though  abandoned  by  the  monarch,  had 
been  resumed  by  individuals,  in  France.  Francis 
de  la  Roque,  Lord  of  Robertval,  a  man  of  conside- 
rable influence  in  the  province  of  Picardy,  had  so- 
licited Francis  the  first,  to  permit  him  to  prosecute 
the  discoveries  of  Cartier.  He  had  been,  by  letters 
patent   of  the   fifteenth   of  January    1540,   created 


\4 

I      '"I'i 
•^1 


V 


n 


14 


CHAPTER 


(1641 


'a;'? 


■9: 


"  Lord  of  Noriinbegue,  Viceroy  and  Lieutenant-Ge- 
neral  of  Canada,  Hochelaga,  Saguenay,  Newfound- 
land, Belisle,  Carpen,  the  great  bay  and  Baccaloes.'* 

The  Viceroy,  in  the  following  year,  sailc^d  with 
five  ships,  having  taken  Cartier  as  his  first  pilot. 
The  voyage  was  prosperous.  He  built  a  fort  (some 
say  on  the  river  St.  Lawrence,  others  on  the  island 
of  St.  John)  of  which  he  gave  the  command  to  Car- 
tier.  Leaving  a  good  garrison  in  it,  and  a  barque 
for  the  prosecution  of  Cartier's  discoveries,  he  sailed 
for  France,  in  search  of  farther  aid  for  his  colony. 

Incessantly  annoyed  by  the  natives,  assailed  by 
disease,  and  unable  to  withstand  the  severity  of  the 
weather,  the  colonists  prevailed  on  their  chief,  in 
the  following  year,  to  carry  them  back  to  France. 
Near  the  island  of  Newfoundland,  they  met  Robert- 
val,  who,  by  solicitations  and  threats,  induced  them 
to  return.  Having  restored  order  among  them,  he 
proceeded  up  the  rivers  St.  Lawrence  and  Saguenay 
to  explore  their  shores.  He  sent  one  of  his  pilots 
in.  quest  of  a  north-west  passage  to  China  and  went 
back  to  France. 

Muscoso,  the  successor  of  Soto  in  the  command  of 
the  Spaniards  on  the  Mississippi,  conducted  the 
remainder  of  the  army  up  Red  River,  through  that 
part  of  the  country  now  called  Natchitoches  and 
Nagodoches,  to  a  nation  of  Indians,  whom  from  the 
number  of  wild  cattle  he  found  among  them,  he 
called  los  vaqueros ;  probably,  in  that  part  of  the 
country  now  known  as  the  province  of  Texas. 
Proceeding  about  one  hundred  miles  further,  the 
army  reached  the  foot  of  a  mountainous  country. 
Muscoso  had  been  induced  to  march  this  way  in  the 
hope  of  getting  to  Mexico  by  land.  He  now  deter- 
mined, on  the  account  of  the  distance  which  he  re- 
ceived from  the  Indians,  to  retrogade,  and  float  down 


1342] 


THE  FIRST. 


l& 


the  Mississippi  to  the  sea.  The  army  .accordingly 
marched  into  winter  quartes,  at  the  mouth  of  Red 
River. 

During  the  month  of  January,  Muscoso  employed 
his  carpenters  in  the  construction  of  vessels,  to  con- 
vey his  men  to  Mexico.  The  neighbouring  ca- 
ciques, apprehensive  that  his  views,  in  going  thither, 
were  to  apprise  his  countrymen  of  the  fertility  of  the 
land  on  the  Mississippi, and  to  solicit  aid  to  return  and 
subjugate  the  Indians,  leagued  themselves  for  the 
purpose  of  raising  a  sufficient  force  to  destroy  the 
Spaniards,  or  at  least  to  set  fire  to  the  vessels  they 
w  ere  building.  Garcilasso  relates  the  league  was  so 
general,  that  the  caciques,  who  entered  in  it,  agreed 
to  raise  forty  thousand  men.  The  plot,  however, 
became  known  to  some  Indian  women,  who  attended 
the  Spanish  officers,  and  was  disclosed  to  Muscoso. 
The  measures  he  took  to  defeat  it,  induced  most  of 
the  caciques  to  withdraw  from  the  league.  Those 
who  dwelt,  immediately  on  the  river  and  their  nearest 
neighbours,  pcjsevered  in  their  intention,  and  collect- 
ed a  considerable  number  of  canoes  and  pirogues  and 
made  rafts,  with  the  view  of  pursuing  the  Spaniards 
down  the  stream. 

On  the  twenty-fourth  of  June,  the  vessels  were 
launched,  and  soon  after  the  army  went  on  boaTd ; 
hides  having  b?"en  placed  around  the  bows,  as  a 
protection  against  the  arrows  of  the  ^  dians.  Out 
of  the  twelve  hundred  and  fifty  men  \,  were  land- 
ed at  the  bay  del  Spiritu  Santo,  there  remained  now 
but  three  hundred  and  fifty,  and  the  three  hundred 
and  fifty  horses  were  reduced  to  thirty.  On  the 
second  day  after  their  departure,  the  Indian  fleet 
hove^in  sight  towards  noon;  Garcilasso  says,  it  con- 
sisted of  one  thousand  pirogues,  canoes  or  rafts  of 
various  sizes ;  the  largest  containing  eighty  men  and 


'J 


~5hl^=    ■'■ 


1 

1 

if 

i  1 

III 

,i 
1 

IH 


CHAPTER 


[1618 


the  least  having  four  oars  on  each  side.  Each  pi- 
rogue, was  neatly  painted  in  and  outside,  with  bhie, 
red,  yellow  or  white.  The  oars  and  feathers,  bows 
and  arrows  of  the  warriors  in  each  pirogue,  was  of 
the  same  colour  with  it.  The  oars  were  plied  in 
measure  and  cadence,  the  rowers  sinofin^  to  mark 
the  time.  The  fleet  advanced  in  five  divisions,  each 
pouring  a  volley  of  arrows,  as  it  passed  the  Spa- 
niards; the  pursuit  was  continued  during  ten  days, 
when  it  was  given  up.  Almost  every  Spiiniard  was 
wounded,  and  of  the  thirty  horses  that  were  em- 
barked, twenty-two  were  killed.  The  Spaniards 
had  been  unable  to  defend  themselves,  having  no 
longer  any  powder. 

Muscoso  perceiving  a  village  near  the  shore,  and 
concluding  he  was  approaching  the  sea,  deemed  it 
prudent  to  land  one  hundred  of  his  men  in  quest  of 
provisions.  As  they  advanced  towards  the  village, 
the  Indians  left  it,  flying  in  all  directions.  The  Spa- 
niards tound  in  it  abundance  of  corn,  venison  and 
dried  fruit.  But  a  part  of  the  Indian  fleet,  having 
landed  above,  a  junction  was  formed  between  it  and 
the  Indians  of  the  village,  and  they  marched  down 
against  the  Spaniards,  who  were  compelled  to  re- 
turn in  great  haste  to  their  shipping;  leaving  their 
horses  behind,  which  the  Indians  destroyed  with 
their  arrows. 

Four  days  after,  the  Spaniards  reached  the  sea, 
and  sailing  slowly  along  the  coast,  arrived  at  Panuco, 
a  port  distant  about  sixty  leagues  from  the  city  of 
Mexico. 

Garcilasso  de  la  Vega,  who  has  written  the  best 
account  that  has  reached  us  of  this  expedition,  en- 
titles his  work  the  history  of  the  conquest  of  Florida. 
With  as  much  propriety,  an  English  writer  might 
entitle  his  memoirs  of  Sir  Edward  Packenham's  ex- 


1547] 


TlIK  FIRST 


17 


pedition  in  IT.I,  the  liistory  of  tlio  conquest  of  TjOu'i- 
siaiia.  J*orlm|)H  GarcilasHo  wrote  ruore  as  a  lawyer 
tfiari  a  solflier,  and  imagining  that  this  biirtfieiiBOfne 
perambula  ion  of  the  country  had  acijiiired  a  title 
to  the  crown  uf  Spain,  considered  Fhirida  as  llnrrehy 
aa/iiireti,  and  called  the  act  an  ac((uisition  or  coii- 
f|nt'sl.  So  might  the  sailing  of  Cahot  in  I19}|,  in  a 
vesst'l  fitted  out  by  Henry  the  seventh  of  lOnghmd.  he 
called  the  acquisition  or  rnn(/i(csf  ot"  the  northi'rn 
continent  of  America.  Although  (he  name  was  not 
given,  the  elP'ct  was  cliiimed  ;  and  General  Ilill,  in 
1711,  demanded  the  surrender  of  the  (brtrcss  of 
Quebec,  on  the  incontestible  title,  acquired  to  the 
crown  of  England  to  all  North  America,  by  the  dis- 
covery, or  occular  occupation,  of  the  country,  by 
Cabot. 

The  sceptre  of  England,  on  the  twenty  eighth  day 
of  January  If)  17,  passed  from  the  hands  of  Henry 
the  eighth,  in  the  fifty  seventh  year  of  his  age,  into 
those  of  his  infant  son,  Edward  the  sixth;  and  that 
of  France,  on  the  thirty  first  of  March  following, 
from  those  of  Francis  the  first,  in  his  fifty  third  year, 
into  those  of  his  son,  Henry  the  second  Francis 
had  entirely  lost  sight  of  the  new  world,  during  the 
war  with  England,  in  the  latter  part  of  his  reign. 

History  has  not  recorded  any  attempt  of  Henry 
the  eighth,  to  extend  his  dominions  to  the  western 
hemisphere.  English  vessels,  however,  were  em- 
ployed during  his  reign,  in  the  fisheries  of  New- 
foundland ;  and,  in  the  reign  of  his  youthful  succes- 
sor,  was  passed  the  first  English  statute,  which 
relates  to  America.  Its  object  was  to  repress  the 
extortions  of  the  officers  of  the  Admiralty,  who  de- 
manded a  duty,  or  part  of  the  profits  made  on  every 
voyage  to  Ireland,  Iceland  or  Newfoundland. — 2  Ed. 
vi.  6. 

i^ou.  u  .   S 


i- 

1 

K^i 

PS*' 

h 

'■'*■ 

t 

K' 

;i  ■ 

i 

Hi*     ' 

•     :ijiii 

'S  nJ 

.i^JlM 

■ 

tB 


CHAPTKK 


ill  t; 


(ir>r)ti 


ij.j 


m 

«"■  V..- 


;«    J* 


V 


Edwanl  <li(Ml  in  I.O^j^,  at  tlio  age  of  sixteen,  and 
was  succ(M'(l{'d  by  Mary,  his  sister. 

America  does  not  appear  to  have  attraet<'d  llic 
attention  of  this  princess,  nor  tliat  of  Flenry  the  se- 
cond of  France,  who  prosecuted  ihv  war  his  father 
had  heorun  with  England.  At  the  coiiehision  of  it, 
he  entered  into  a  league  with  the  elector  ol'Saxotiy 
antl  the  Margrave  of  liran(ierd)urg,  against  (JIunlcH 
the  first;  but  when  his  antagonist  had  reconciled 
himself  to  his  German  adversaries,  Henry  was  left 
to  maintain  the  war  alone.  Philip  the  second  of 
Spain,  on  the  abdication  of  his  father  in  l.'i.'jt),  pro- 
secuted it  with  great  vigor,  aided  by  the  English, 
whose  queen  he  had  married. 

Mary,  who  ended  her  lite,  on  the  seventh  of  No- 
vember l.'i.'iS,  at  the  age  of  forty  one,  without  issue, 
had  for  her  successor  Elizabeth,  her  sister ;  and  on 
the  10th  of  July  of  the  following  year,  Henry  the 
second  died,  at  the  same  age,  in  consequence  of  a 
wound  he  had  accidentally  received,  in  a  tourna- 
ment. The  wars,  that  desolated  France  during  al- 
most the  whole  veign  of  this  prince,  were  probably 
the  cause  that  the  French  made  no  progress  in  the 
new  world. 

His  son  and  successor,  Francis  the  second,  the 
husband  of  the  unfortunate  Mary  Stuart  of  Scotland, 
reigned  but  seventeen  months,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Charles  the  ninth,  Henry'  second  son. 

In  the  begmning  of  Charles's  disturbed  reign.  Ad- 
miral Coligny  sought  in  Florida,  an  asylum  for  his 
protestant  adherents.  He  equipped  two  ships  at 
Dieppe,  under  the  direction  of  Jean  Riband,  whom 
he  put  at  the  head  of  a  small  military  force,  and  a 
considerable  number  of  colonists.  Ribaud  weighed 
anchor,  on  the  eighteenth  of  February  1562,  and 
made  land  in  the  thirtieth  degree  of  northern  lati- 


^^i 


■  I  > 
1 


160'.'1 


THE  11  RSI 


»i' 


iipb  at 
whom 
and  a 

eighed 
and 

rn  lati- 


tude?, near  a  vi\\H\  to  wliii'h  lir  gave  the  narn«*  oi'  Cap 
Frmu^uds:  \\  is  one  ol  (ho  promontories  ol  ihr  estuar) 
on  which  the  (own  of  St.  Aii^usliiu'  now  stands.  He 
luiuh'd  on  the  hanks  ol'  tlie  rivtM*  St.  iVhiry,  which 
now  s(»|);iriilrs  Georgia  from  I'Morichi.  He  caUed  it 
the  river  of  iVhiy,  troni  the  eircumstance  of  his  enter- 
ing on  the  lirsl  d.iy  of  lliat  month.  Tlie  hidiann 
recM'ived  him  with  much  hospitality,  fie  erected 
a  coluimi  on  the  hinks  of  the  stream,  and  affixed  to 
it  an  escutcheon  of  the  armorial  of  France,  in  token 
of  his  having  taken  solemn  possession  of  the  country. 
After  a  short  Ht,iy,  he  proceeded  northerly  to  an 
island,  at  the  mouth  of  Edisto  river,  in  the  priesent 
state  of  South  Carolina.  He  called  this  stream  the 
great  river,  a  fort  which  he  erected  on  the  island 
Charles's  Fort,  or  Arx  Carolina^  and  the  place,  before 
which  he  anchored,  Port  Royal ;  an  appellation, 
which  it  retains  at  this  day.  Having  settled  his 
colony  around  it,  he  placed  Albert  at  the  head  of 
the  colonists,  and  returned  to  France.  Although  he 
had  been  very  friendly  received  by  the  natives,  he 
in  vain  endeavoured  to  prevail  on  some  of  them  to 
accompany  him. 

Albert  visited  the  Indian  tribes  near  the  fort,  and 
found  them  all  disposed  to  live  on  the  most  friendly 
terms  with  the  whites.  These  were  more  anxious 
to  ramble  over  the  country,  in  search  of  mines  of 
the  precious  metals,  than  to  till  the  earth;  and  the 
stock  of  provisions  left  by  Ribaud,  although  conside- 
rable, was  at  last  exhausted.  This  chief,  on  his 
arrival  in  France,  had  found  his  countrymen  dis- 
tracted by  a  civil  war,  and  his  patron  out  of  favour 
at  court,  so  that  he  was  unable  to  procure  for  the 
colony  the  needed  supplies  he  had  come  after. 
For  awhile,  Albert  procured  relief  from  the  natives; 
corn  and   peas    Avere    obtained  in  tolerable  abun- 


I 


^iil 


20 


tHAPTEU 


[1564 


tlance;  but  fire  consumed  the  building  in  which  \he 
succour  had  born  stored.  The  Indians  became 
unable  or  uiiwiUing  to  minister  to  the  encreasing 
wants  of  the  colonists.  The  distress,  attending  the 
penury  that  followed,  heightened  the  discontents 
which  the  ill  conduct  or  misguided  severity  of  Al- 
bert had  excited,  and  the  colonists  rose  against  and 
slew  their  chief 

Nicholas  Barre  was  called  by  the  insurgents  to 
the  supreme  command.  They  had  ascertained  that 
there  was  no  gold  mine  near  them,  and  thought  it 
preferable  to  return  to  the  old  world,  than  to  seek  a 
scanty  and  precarious  subsistance  by  labour,  in  the 
new.  Unanimity  strengthened  their  efforts ;  a  ves- 
sel was  built  and  corked  with  Spanish  beard ;  ropes 
were  made  of  grass,  and  sails,  with  the  tents,  bags 
and  linen  cloth  that  remained  ;  but  as  famine  drove 
them  from  the  land,  the  stock  of  provisions  they 
carried  to  sea,  was  not  abundant;  calms  retarded 
their  progress;  they  were  reduced  to  a  scanty  ration 
of  eighteen  grains  of  corn  a  day  to  each  man ;  and 
the  moment  came  when  there  was  not  a  single  grain 
to  deal  out.  Lots  were  cast,  and  the  wretch  point- 
ed out  by  chance,  tamely  submitted  his  neck  to 
the  butcher's  knife,  to  appease  the  hunger  of  hie 
companions.  Soon  after  this,  they  were  met  by 
an  English  ship,  which  enabled  them  to  reacli 
France. 

Coligriy  had  been  restored  to  favour,  and  he  did 
not  solicit  in  vain  his  sovereign's  aid,  for  the  prose- 
cution of  his  plan  to  settle  a  colony  in  Florida. 
TInee  ships  were  fitted  out  at  Havre  de  Grace ;  and 
L  udonriiere  to  whom  the  command  of  them  was 
given,  sailed  on  the  twenty  second  of  April,  1564, 
and  landed  on  the  shores  of  the  river  St.  Mary,  near 
the  monument,  erected  two  years  before  by  Ribaud, 


,irr 


*  » 


1665] 


THE  FIRST. 


SI 


as  an  evidence  of  his  having  taken  possession  of  the 
country  around  it,  in  the  name  of  Charles  the  nintTi. 

The  Indians  manifested  great  joy,  at  the  arrival  of 
the  French,  and  led  Laudonniere  to  the  column. 
He  directed  a  fort  to  be  built,  on  the  southern  bank 
of  the  stream,  and  called  the  country  Caroline,  in 
honor  of  his  king.  Parties  of  his  men  went  in  dif- 
ferent directions,  to  explore  the  country.  The  In- 
dians, discovering  that  the  precious  metals  were  the 
main  object  of  the  pursuit  of  the  whites,  played  on 
their  credulity,  amused  them  with  fanciful  stories 
and  pointed  to  the  wes^ard,  as  the  part  of  their 
country,  in  which  mines  of  gold  could  be  found. 
No  success  attended  a  search  for  metals ;  but  a  ship 
arrived  from  France,  laden  with  provisions. 

Laudonniere's  administration  did  not  please  the 
colonists.  A  mutiny  er)sued,  but  its  consequences 
were  not  so  fatal  to  the  chief,  as  the  former-  had  been 
to  his  predecessor.  Some  of  the  mutineers  possess- 
ed themselves  of  two  barques,  which  Laudonniere 
had  caused  to  be  constructed,  and  sailed  on  a  pi- 
ratical cruize  down  the  canal  of  Bahama,  towards 
the  Havana. 

On  the  third  of  August,  in  the  following  year,  Sir 
John  Hawkins,  a  renowned  English  navigator,  visit- 
ed Caroline,  with  four  vessels.  Laudonniere  ob-. 
tained  one  of  them,  and  made  preparations  to  sail 
in  her  for  France.  He  was  near  his  departure, 
when,  on  the  twenty -fifth  a  small  fleet,  was  descried 
approaching  the  coast.  It  consisted  of  seven  sail, 
and  was  commanded  by  Riband.  Complaints  against 
Laudonniere  had  been  made  to  the  King;  he  was 
represented  as  oppressing  the  men  under  him,  and 
it  had  been  strenuously  urged,  that,  unless  he  was 
recalled,  there  was  much  ground  to  apprehend  that 
the  garrison  would  redress  their  own  wrongs,  in  the 


i^^l 

:  •.   ; 

M 

-   .,  m 

_ 

■\''t^ 

1* 

:    t 

vX 


11 


'  '*^ 


f      ,, " 

',>^ 

\' 

' ,   ■  ■'' 

'  >  .t, 

'ii 

.*■',■: 

>'i 

,  '  i 

*.y' 

:l! 

'     :  ' 

»i 

:}• 

m- 

"if 

\  1 

i  ■ 


illi 


s^ 


CHAPTER 


[1665 


same  manner  as  the  former  colonists  had  redress- 
ed theirs.  Ribaud  was  accordirjgly  appointed 
governor  oi"  Caroline,  and  instructed  to  send  his 
predecessor  home.  Contrary  winds  compelled  the 
fleet  to  seek  shelter  successively  in  the  ports  of 
Havre  de  Grace  and  Portsmouth;  it  had  sailed  from 
the  latter  towards  the  middle  of  June,  and  the  pas- 
sage had  been  tedious.  Ribaud  had  hardly  deliver- 
ed the  minister's  despatches  to  Laudonniere,  when  a 
Spanish  fleet  hove  in  sight. 

Philip  the  second,  apprised  of  the  progress  of  the 
French  in  Caroline,  had  oiidered  a  fleet  to  be  equip- 
ped at  Cadiz,  under  the  orders  of  Don  Pedro  Menen- 
dez^  for  the  purpose  of  destroying  their  colony.  Don 
Pedro  had  sailed  on  the  twenty-ninth  of  June.  At 
the  departure  of  Ribaud  from  France,  notice  of 
the  preparations  making  at  Cadiz  had  reached  Pa- 
ris, and  although  the  object  of  them  was  not  known, 
an  attack  on  Caroline  was  suspected.  He  was, 
therefore,  instructed,  whilst  he  was  charged,  to  at- 
tempt nothing  against  the  rights  of  the  Spanish  King, 
to  resist  any  encroachment,  on  those  of  his  own  sove- 
reign. 

Don  Pedro  landed  near  the  mouth  of  a  stream, 
which  the  French  had  called  the  river  of  the  dol- 
phins, to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  St.  Augustine, 
who,  on  the  day  of  his  arrival  was  honored  in  the 
Romish  Church ;  it  is  now  known  by  that  of  St. 
John.  He  took  formal  possession  of  the  country  in 
Philip's  name,  and  gave  orders  for  the  immediate 
erection  of  a  fort.  Ribaud  thought  it  best  to  set  sail, 
and  attack  the  Spanish  fleet,  before  the  land  forces 
could  be  put  a  shore,  and  invest  the  French  fort. 
Leaving  therefore  a  few  men  with  Laudonniere,  he 
took  in  all  the  rest,  and  hoisted  sail.  A  violent 
storm  overtook  and  dispersed  his  vessels,  and  drove 


t\  ' 


-■1  :^.'.  1 


■  ■>-■'■  I' 


[1566 

dress- 
ointed 
id  his 
jd  the 
rts  of 
3  from 
le  pas- 
eliver- 
vhen  a 

of  the 
equip- 
denen- 
Don 
le.  At 
tice  of 
ed  Pa- 
known, 
[e  was, 
^  to  at- 
King, 
n  sove- 

itream, 

16  dol- 

ustine, 

in  the 

of  St. 
ntry  in 
lediate 
et  sail, 

forces 
h  fort, 
ere,  he 
violent 

drove 


1565] 


THE  FIRST. 


25 


several  of  them  on  shore.  In  the  meanwhile,  the 
Spanish  chief  had  landed  his  troops  and  marched  to- 
wards the  fort.  He  reached  it,  on  the  nineteenth  of 
September,  before  sun  rise.  The  weather  was  foggy, 
and  the  Spaniards  were  in  the  fort,  while  several  of 
the  French  were  still  in  bed.  An  immediate  slaugh- 
ter began.  But  Laudonniere,  with  a  few  of  his  men, 
eflfected  his  escape,  on  board  of  a  vessel,  in  which 
they  sailed  for  France. 

Don  Pedro  now  went  in  quest  of  Ribaud;  he 
found  him  at  anchor;  after  a  parley  of  twenty-four 
hours,  the  French  chief  surrendered  his  vessels  and 
the  men  under  his  orders.  Two  hundred  soldier* 
or  sailors,  having  refused  to  yield  themselves  priso- 
ners, escaped  during  the  night,  and  marched  through 
the  woods  southerly.  Notwithstanding  his  pledged 
faith,  Don  Pedro  caused  all  such  of  his  prisoners  as 
were  protestants  to  be  hung  or  slaughtered.  The 
Catholics,  who  were  in  a  small  number  indeed,  were 
spared.  The  bodies  of  those  who  were  hung  were 
left  on  the  trees  along  the  shore;  and  an  inscription 
was  set  up  announcing  they  were  hung  "  not  as 
French,  but  as  heretics." 

Laudonniere's  fort  was  repaired  and  garrisoned, 
and  it,  as  well  as  the  river  on  which  it  stood,  was 
called  San  Matheo,  after  the  saint,  the  festival  of 
which  was  celebrated  in  Spain,  on  the  day  on  which 
Don  Pedro  entered  the  stream. 

A  strong  party  was  sent  after  the  men,  who  part- 
ed from  Ribaud,  the  night  preceding  his  surrender ; 
they  were  overtaken  at  a  place,  afterwards  called 
by  the  Spaniards,  Punta  de  Canaveral,  in  the  28th 
degree  of  latitude,  and  made  prisoners. 

Six  hundred  French  are  reckoned  to  have  fallen 
victims  to  the  cruelty  of  the  Spaniards,  whose  force, 
at  the  end  of  this  tragedy,  is  said  to  have  been  re- 


t 


m 


rim 


1  'M 


u 


CHAPTER 


[1567 


duced  to  four  hundred,  who  were  divided  between 
the  forts  of  San  Matheo  and  St.  Augustine. 

This  is  the  first  act  of  hostihty,  between  European 
nations  in  the  new  worhh 

Charles  the  ninth,  took  no  measure  to  avenge  tlie 
murder  of  his  proteslant  subjects.  The  apathy  of 
the  monarch,  of  the  court  and  the  nation,  excited 
the  valiant  spirit  of  Dominique  de  Gourgues,  of  Pont 
Marsan,  in  the  province  of  Gascony.  Having  sold 
his  patrimony,  aided  by  two  of  his  friends,  he  equip- 
ped three  vessels  in  the  port  of  Bordeaux,  engaged 
two  hundred  men  to  accompany  him,  and  left  the 
Garronne  on  the  second  of  August  1567.  Ars  he 
approached  the  river  of  San  Matheo,  the  Spaniards 
mistaking  his  vessels,  for  some  of  their  nation,  fired 
a  salute.  De  Gourgues,  unwilling  to  undeceive 
them,  returned  the  compliment,  and  passed  on.  He 
landed  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  then  called  the 
Seine,  now  Alatamaha.  With  the  neighbouring  In- 
dians, who  ran  to  the  shore  on  the  approach  of  the 
vessels,  came  some  of  Laudonniere's  men,  who  had 
found  a  refuge  in  their  towns.  By  their  assistance, 
De  Gourgues  was  enabled  to  converse  with  the  na- 
tives, who  greatly  dissatisfied  with  their  new  neigh- 
bours, offered  to  join  him,  if  he  would  dislodge  the 
Spaniards.  De  Gourgues  told  them  his  voyage  had 
not  been  undertaken  with  any  hostile  intention;  but, 
if  the  Indians  desired  it,  he  was  ready  to  assist  them 
in  getting  rid  of  their  unwelcome  neighbours.  He 
was  informed  that  besides  the  fort  at  San  Matheo 
and  St.  Augustin,  the  Spaniards  had  a  third,  which 
they  called  St.  Helen,  at  a  small  distance  to  tlie 
south  of  the  second;  and  their  effective  force,  in  the 
three,  was  about  four  hundred  men. 

A  number  of  warriors,  from  the  more  distant  tribes. 


.. .  • 


I5«7] 


THE  FIRST. 


tii 


came  and  joined  those  from  the  sea  shore,  who  had 
put  themselves  under  De  Gourgues. 

The  combined  army  was  soon  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  the  northernmost  fort.  De  Gourgues  sent 
some  of  his  allies  to  form  a  cordon  around  it,  into 
the  woods ;  he  went  after  them,  accompanied  by  a 
considerable  part  of  his  men,  whom  he  placed  as 
near  the  edge  of  the  woods  as  could  be,  without  be- 
ing seen  by  the  enemy ;  while  the  rest  of  his  force,  in 
a  small  body,  approached  slowly  in  front,  and  halted 
out  of  the  reach  of  the  artillery  of  the  fort.  On  their 
being  perceived  by  the  Spaniards,  a  strong  detach- 
ment sallied  out  to  attack  them.  De  Gourgues  then 
came  forth,  placing  the  detachment  between  him  and 
the  party  they  expected  to  attack.  They  were 
completely  routed.  He  now  turned  against  the  fort, 
and  the  Indians  contracting  the  circle,  they  had  form- 
ed round  it,  rushed  forward,  giving  the  war  whoop. 
The  garrison,  intimidated  by  ihis  unexpected  ma- 
noeuvre, became  an  easy  prey.  A  great  carnage 
ensued.  A  few  Spaniards  new  to  the  woods,  where 
they  were  pursued  and  despatched  by  the  Indians. 
De  Gourgues  had  the  survivors  hung  on  trees  along 
the  shore,  with  an  inscription  announcing  they  were 
thus  treated  "  not  as  Spaniards,  but  as  murderers." 

De  Gourgues  next  marched  against  St.  Augustine, 
and  the  other  fort ;  there  were  but  fifty  men  in  each ; 
they  surrendered,  and  were  not  ill  treated.  The 
buildings  were  burnt  and  the  forts  dismantled. 

The  French  being  too  few  in  number  to  hold  pos- 
session of  the  country,  De  Gourgues  brought  them 
back  to  France.  He  was  obliged  to  conceal  himself 
to  avoid  falling  a  victim  to  the  resentment  of  Philip 
11.,  who  offered  a  large  price  for  his  head,  and 
whose  Ambassador,  at  Paris,  demanded  that  he 
should  be  punished,  for  having  waged  war  against  a 

.1 


1 


■■•■>, 


.» ' , 


V.' 

ft 


•,t,T 


16.  i  ■■■  ■».!■' 


P- : 


vfll 


f  '-3 


hOV.  1. 


2U 


CHAPTER 


[1574 


loll 


prince  in  amity  with  his  own  sovereign.  Thus  are 
often  the  most  heroic,  useful  and  disinterested  ser- 
vices, that  an  individual  renders  to  his  country,  not 
only  unrewarded,  but  the  source  of  chagrin,  distress 
and  misery.     Sic  vos^  non  vobis. 

During  the  remainder  of  the  reign  of  Charles  the 
ninth,  the  kingdom  was  distracted  by  the  struggles 
of  the  Condes,  the  Guises  and  the  Colignys ;  so  that 
the  re-establishment  of  the  French  colony  in  Florida, 
was  not  attempted.  Charles  died  on  the  thirtieth  of 
May  1.574,  at  the  age  ot  twenty-four,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  brother,  Heiiry  the  third. 

Elizabeth  of  England,  who  during  her  long  reign, 
saw  the  crown  of  France  on  the  heads  of  five  kings, 
does  not  appear  to  have  thought  of  the  new  world, 
till  1 .578.  On  the  eleventh  of  June  of  that  year,  she 
authorised  Sir  Humphry  Gilbert,  by  letters  patent,  to 
discover  and  take  possession  of  such  remote,  hea- 
then and  barbarous  countries,  as  were  not  possessed 
by  any  christian  prince  or  people. 

Sir  Humphry  was  not  successful  in  his  attempt. 
He  made  no  settlement,  and  his  country  gained  no 
advantage,  but  the  formal  possession  which  he  took 
of  the  island  of  Newfoundland.  In  his  pursuit  of 
farther  advantages,  he  lost  his  fortune  and  his  life. 

Henry  the  third  does  not  appear  to  have  turned 
his  attention  towards  the  western  hemisphere,  till 
the  ninth  year  of  his  reign ;  when  he  granted  to  the 
Marquis  de  la  Roche,  the  powers  which  the  Mar- 
quis de  Robertval  had  enjoyed  under  Francis  the 
first,  and  which  Henry  the  second  had  granted  to 
the  former,  w  ho  had  been  prevented  by  the  distress- 
es of  the  times  to  avail  himself  of  them.  The  grant 
is  of  the  twelfth  of  January  1583.  It  states  that  the 
king,  in  compliance  with  the  wishes  of  his  predeces- 
sor, appoints  the  Marquis,  his  Lieutenant-General 


1576] 


THE  FIRST 


S7 


in  Canada,  Hochelaga,  Newfoundland,  Labrador, 
the  river  of  the  great  bay,  (St.  Lawrence)  Norem- 
begue  and  the  adjacent  country. 

The  condition  of  the  grant  is,  that  the  grantee 
shall  have  in  particular  view,  the  extension  of  the 
catholic  faith.  His  authority  is  declared  to  extend 
over  persons  in  the  land  and  sea  service.  He  is  to 
appoint  the  captains  and  officers  of  the  ships,  and 
they  are  to  obey  him ;  he  is  authorised  to  press 
ships  and  to  raise  troops,  declare  war,  erect  fortifi- 
cations and  towns,  baronies,  earldoms  and  fiefs  of 
less  dignity,  to  enact  laws  and  punish  those  who 
break  them.  The  exclusive  commerce  of  the  coun- 
try is  granted  him,  and  he  is  empowered,  in  case  of 
death,  or  sickness,  to  appoint,  by  will  or  otherwise, 
one  or  more  lieutenants,  in  his  stead. 

The  success  of  the  grantee  did  not  correspond  to 
the  extent  of  his  powers.  Desirous  of  visiting  th& 
country,  over  which  they  were  to  be  exercised,  he 
fitted  out  a  ship.  The  island  of  Sable,  on  which 
the  Baron  de  Levy  had  stopped  in  1508,  was  the 
first  land  he  saw.  He  left  on  it  forty  wretches, 
whom  he  had  taken  out  of  the  prisons  of  Paris.  A 
Spanish  ship  had  lately  been  cast  on  it;  the  timber, 
these  men  took  from  the  wreck,  enabled  them  to 
build  huts.  The  cattle  and  sheep  left  by  the  baron 
had  greatly  multiplied,  and  afforded  them  meat. 
The  Marquis  from  thence  proceeded  to  the  conti- 
nent, and  explored  the  shores  of  the  country,  which 
was  after  called  Acadie,  and  now  Nova  Scotia.  He 
returned  to  France  and  died,  without  having  been 
able  to  advance  his  interest  or  that  of  his  country,  by 
his  grants. 

Sir  Humphry  Gilbert  had  a  half  brother,  who 
makes  a  most  conspicuous  figure,  in  the  history  of 
the  new  world,  and  of  England — Sir  Walter  Raleigh, 
who  had  taken  an  interest  in  the  expedition  tha< 


'■•     T:-r 


■  \-'^ 


v,l 


V  ■  n 


',ti 


ili|l 


;1 


♦r 


8» 


CIIAl'TEK 


(158^ 


followed  the  grant.  To  him,  the  Queen  granted  a 
new  one,  on  the  twenty-sixth  of  March,  1584.  With- 
in a  month  from  that  day,  the  grantee  equipped  two 
vessels,  which  reached  the  northern  continent  of 
America,  on  the  coast  of  the  present  state  of  North 
Carolina.  They  entered  Pamplico  sound,  by  Occa- 
cock  inlet,  and  proceeded  to  Roanoke  island.  A 
short  time  was  spent  in  exploring  the  country,  and 
trafficking  with  the  natives. 

On  the  return  of  the  adventurers,  their  report 
greatly  excited  the  hopes  of  their  patron.  The  new 
discovered  country  was  called  Virginia,  in  honor  of 
the  maiden  queen,  and  Sir  Richard  Grenville  was 
despatched,  to  convey  thither  a  small  colony,  which 
Sir  Walter  abundantly  supplied  with  provisions,  arm» 
and  ammunition. 

Sir  Richard  landed  one  hundred  and  eight  colo- 
nists, whom  he  left  under  the  orders  of  Ralph.  Lane^ 
after  having  visited  the  barren  snores  of  Albemarle 
and  Pamplico  sounds. 

The  English,  like  the  French  in  Caroline,  instead 
of  employing  their  time  in  the  tillage  of  the  soil,  wast- 
ed it  in  the  search  after  ores.  The  stock  of  provisions 
brought  over,  not  being  renewed  by  agriculture,  was 
exhausted ;  and  the  colonists  scattered  themselves 
along  the  shore,  in  small  parties,  with  the  hope  of 
finding  a  precarious  subsistence  in  fishing  and  hunt- 
ing. Sir  Francis  Drake,  returning  in  the  following 
year  from  a  successful  expedition  against  the  Spa- 
niards, (the  first  act  of  hostility  of  England  against 
Spain,  in  the  new  world)  visited  Virginia;  and  at 
first  determined  on  adding  one  hundred  men  to  those 
under  Ralph  Lane,  and  leaving  one  of  his  vessels 
with  them ;  but,  at  last,  at  their  request,  he  took  him 
and  his  men  on  board  of  his  fleet  and  carried  them 
bad  to  England. 

Sir  Richard  arrived  some  time  after,  with  three 


(689] 


THE  FIRST. 


ti* 


vessels.  Finding  the  country  deserted,  and  desirous 
of  keeping  possession  of  it,  he  left  as  many  of  his 
men  as  he  could  spare,  fifty  in  number,  on  Roanoke 
Island.  Some  time  after  his  departure,  these  men 
ivere  massacred  by  the  natives. 

The  ill  success  of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh's  attempt, 
did  not  discourage  him.  He  fitted  out  three  ships, 
in  which  a  number  of  colonists  embarked ;  some 
women  accompanied  them;  an  ample  supply  of  pro- 
visions was  provided,  and  John  White  was  placed  at 
the  head  of  the  colony,  with  twelve  assistants,  who 
were  to  act  as  his  council.  On  reaching  the  island 
of  Roanoke,  in  the  latter  part  of  July  1587,  they 
erected  cabins  for  their  accommodation  during  the 
winter,  and  made  preparations  for  a  crop  in  the 
spring,  and  in  the  following  year,  their  chief  crossed 
the  Atlantic  to  solicit  further  aid  from  the  knight. 

On  his  reaching  England,  he  found  the  nation  in 
great  alarm,  at  the  formidable  preparations  of  the 
King  of  Spain  for  the  invasion  of  the  country,  and. 
Sir  Walter  Raleigh  and  Sir  Richard  Grenville,  too 
much  engaged,  in  providing  the  means  of  defending 
their  country,  to  attend  to  the  affairs  of  Virginia. 
Sir  Walter,  at  last,  assigned  his  patent  to  a  company 
of  merchants,  at  the  head  of  whom  was  John  Smith. 

On  the  first  of  August  1589,  Henry  the  third  of 
France  fell,  in  his  thirty-ninth  year,  under  the  knife 
of  Jacques  Clement,  a  fanatic  priest. 

Ninety-six  years  had  rolled  away  since  the  dis- 
covery of  America,  at  the  death  of  Henry,  the  last 
Monarch  of  the  house  of  Valois.  The  French,  the 
Spaniards  and  the  English  had  made  a  number  of 
attempts  at  colonization,  on  the  northern  continent; 
yet,  besides  a  few  soldiers,  whom  the  Spaniards  had 
sent  to  garrison  fort  St.  Augustine,  the  few  colo- 
nists left  bv  John  White  on  Roanoke  island,  and  the 


I 


■  ^1 


^ 


if- 


.m 
^'^■4 


-;.y 


'i  Nil 


30 


CHAPTER 


[1589 


forty,  by  the  Marquis  de  la  Roche,  on  Sable  island, 
there  was  not  an  European,  living  under  his  national 
flag  in  North  America,  the  northern  part  of  which 
was  now  known  to  Europe  under  the  appellation  of 
Canada,  the  middle  by  that  of  Virginia,  and  the 
southern  by  that  of  Florida. 


Garcilasso  de  la  Fega. — Laet. — Purchas, — Charlevoix, -r^Marshalt. 


1.1801 


THE  SECONI) 


Si 


CHAPTER  11. 


.f 


The  Bourbons. — Henry  IV. — Philip  III. — Pontgravf 
and  Chauvin. — Trois  rivieres. — Gosnuld. — Cape  Cod. 
James  I. — Commandciir  de  la  Chatte. — Chnmplain. — 
Hochelaga. — Dumontz. — Jlcadie. — Port  Rossignol  — 
Port  Mouton. — Penobscot. — Pentagoct. — Port  Royal. 
Poutrincourt. — Earls  of  Southampton  and  Jlrnndel. — 
Captain  Weymouth. — ///  success  of  n  colony  sent  to 
Acadie.—^Pontgravc  sails  with  the  colonists  J  or  France  ; 
he  is  met  by  Pontgrave  and  returns. — The  Marchioness 
of  Guercheville. — James''  patents  to  the  northern  and 
southern  companies. — Jibortivc  effort  of  the  northern. — 
First  attempt  of  the  southern. — James  Town. — Quebec. 

Expedition   against  the  Iroquois Henry  Hudson. — 

Chauvin. — JVew  France. — Prosperous  state  of  the  co- 
lony.— Second  expedition  against  the  Iroquois. — Louis 
XIII. — Jesuits  sent  to  Acadie. — Lake  Champlain. — 
JVova  Belgica. — JVew  Amsterdam. — Lasausuie. — Aca- 
die. — La  Heve. — Port  Roval. — Becancourt. — St.  Sau- 
veur. — Jlrgal  drives  the  French  from  Jlcadie. — l^he 
Earl  of  Soissons. — Prince  of  Conde. — Montreal. — 
Company  of  St.  Muloes. — JVew  England. — Third  ex- 
pedition against  the  Iroquois.-— They  murder  three 
Frenchmen,  and  plot  the  destruction  of  the  colony. — 
Brother  Pacific. — Marslial  of  Montmorency. — JVew 
Plymouth. — Philip  IV. — Sir  William  Alexander. — 
First  irruption  of  the  Iroquois. —  William  and  Edward 

de  Caen. — Fort  of  Quebec Jesuits  sent  to  Canada. — 

Charles  I.  —  Swedish  Colony. — Company  of  JVew 
France. — Kerlz. — Capture  of  a  French  fleet. — Fa- 
mine and  dissmtions. — The  capture  of  Quebec. — Sir 
Robert  Heath. — Carolana. — A'ew  Hampshire. — Peace 
of  St,  Germain. — Canada  and  Acadie  restored ^ 


\1 


'■■,'  A 


1   „ 


fex 


'if  i 
■  vm 

■'V 

m 

'  ■  ill 


vn 


32 


CHAPTER 


1,1694 


^.: 


AT  the  (leuth  of  Henry  the  third,  the  house  of 
ValoiH  became  extifiet.  Its  princes  had  occupied 
the  French  throne,  for  two  hundred  and  sixty-one 
years ;  the  first  king  of  that  branch,  having  been 
Philip  VI.,  who  succeeded  to  Charles  V.  Henry  of 
Bourbon,  was  the  nearest,  tho'  a  very  distant,  kins- 
man of  the  deceased  monarch;  their  common  ancestor 
being  Louis  IX.,  more  commonly  called  St.  Louis, 
who  died  in  1226. 

The  assignees  of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh's  patent,  in 
March  1590,  fitted  out  three  ships,  in  which  White 
embarked  for  Virginia.  So  mucn  time  was  lost  in  a 
fruitless  cruize  against  the  Spaniards,  that  these 
vessels  did  not  reach  their  destmation  till  the  month 
of  August.  The  colonists,  whom  White  had  left  on 
Roanoke  island,  three  years  before,  were  no  longer 
there,  and  every  effort  to  discover  them  was  fruit- 
less. No  other  attempt  was  made  to  find  them, 
and  the  period  and  manner  of  their  perishing  was 
never  known. 

A  French  vessel  came  to  Sable  Island,  for  the 
forty  wretches,  whom  de  la  Roche  had  left  there. 
Twenty-eight  had  perished;  the  survivors  were  taken 
back  to  France. 

Henry  the  fourth,  the  first  king  of  France  of  the 
house  of  Bourbon,  did  not  obtain  at  once  the  peace- 
able possession  of  the  throne.  He  had  been  bred 
a  protestant,  and  the  catholics  suspected  the  sin- 
cerity of  his  attachment  to  their  faith,  which  he  had 
embraced.  He  confirmed  his  power  by  the  victories 
of  Arque  and  Ivry,  and  to  silence  all  opposition,  pro- 
nounced his  abjuration,  and  his  adherence  to  the 
catholic  faith,  in  St.  Denys,  before  his  coronation, 
and  in  the  following  year,  the  fifth  since  his  prede- 
cessor's demise,  the  city  of  Paris  opened  its  gates  to 
him. 


1602] 


TlIK  HKCOND 


8» 


Oil  tlie  thirfoontlj  of  SrplciiilMT  l-OOH,  the  crown 
of  Spniii,  hy  the  dcjitli  of  Philip  the  second,  in 
the  seveiit)'-H('« '>'.()  yvav  of  his  a^e,  panscd  to  U'ih 
son,  liiihp  the  third.  The  revolution,  which  severed 
the  Spiuiinh  provinees  in  ♦In*  low  countries,  from  tlie 
dominions  ot  Spain,  hevran  m  the  latter  part  of  the 
rei^dofthe  dtt/'ased  iiionarch  ;  and  the  war,  which 
ended  in  tfie  l)ej;ininnfj  of  tfie  next,  left  the  house  of 
Nassau,  in  possession  ./I  these  provinC'S.  The  loss 
of  territory,  thus  sustained,  was  followed  in  the  latter 
part  of  the  life  of  Philip  HI.,  by  a  considerable  dimi- 
nution of  population,  through  the  ill  advised  expul- 
sion of  the  Moors. 

The  attention  of  Henry  the  fourth,  nor  that  of  his 
subjects,  does  not  appear  to  have  been  drawn  to  Ame- 
rica, till  many  years  after  his  accession.  Pontgrave, 
an  experienced  navigator  of  St.  Maloes,  who  had 
for  several  years  traded  to  Tadoussac,  on  the  nor- 
thern shore  of  the  river  St.  Lawrence,  at  a  short 
distance  below  the  spot  on  which  the  city  of  Que- 
bec has  since  been  built,  and  Chauvin,  a  captain  of 
the  king's  ships,  who  had  obtained  a  patent,  nearly 
eimilar  to  that  of  the  Marquis  do  la  Roche,  made  a 
voyage  to  Canada,  in  1602.  They  proceeded  up  the 
river  St.  Lawrence,  as  far  as  the  place,  on  which  the 
city  of  Trois  Rivieres  now  stands,  where  Pontgrave, 
wished  to  begin  a  settlement;  but  Chauvin,  more 
anxious  of  promoting  his  interest,  hy  traffic  with  the 
Indians,  than  that  of  his  country,  by  planting  a  co- 
lony, refused  his  consent.  A  few  men,  however, 
were  left  at  Tadoussac,  who  would  have  perished,  if 
the  Indians  had  not  relieved  them. 

The  English  now  kept  pace  with  the  French,  in 
their  endeavours  to  make  a  settlement  in  the  new 
world.  Bartholomew  Gosnold,  a  bold  navigator, 
departed  from  Falmouth,  with  thirty  two  men  in  a 

LOU.  !,  5 


:,;:; 


34 


CHAPTER 


[1602 


barque,  and  sailing  as  nearly  west  as  possible,  made 
the  continent  on  the  eleventh  of  May  of  the  same 
year,  towards  the  forty-third  degree  of  northern  lati- 
tude. He  gave  the  names,  which  they  still  bear,  to 
Cape  Cod,  Martha's  Vineyard  and  Elizabeth  Islands, 
in  the  present  state  of  Massachusetts;  but  no  ac- 
count has  reached  us  of  his  leaving  arjy  person  be- 
hind. Indeed,  the  small  number  of  men  he  took  out, 
precludes  any  idea  of  it. 

On  the  third  of  May  1603,  Queen  Ehzabeth  died 
in  the  seventieth  year  of  her  age,  without  issue,  and 
was  succeeded  by  James  VI.  of  Scotland,  the  son  of 
the  unfortunate  Mary  Stuart. 

At  the  accession  of  the  House  of  Stuart  to  the 
throne  of  England,  there  was  not  a  single  individual 
of  the  English  or  French  nation  in  North  America, 
living  under  the  protection  of  his  national  flag. 

The  Commander  de  la  Chatte,  who  had  acquired 
the  rights  of  Chauvin,  formed  a  company,  chiefly 
composed  of  merchants  of  Rouen,  to  whom  were 
joined  several  persons  of  distinction.  It  prepared 
an  expedition,  the  command  of  which  was  given  to 
Pontgrave,  to  whom  Henry  the  fourth  had  granted 
letters  patent,  autliorising  him  to  make  discoveries 
and  settlements,  on  the  shores  of  the  river  St.  Law- 
rence. Samuel  de  Champlain,  an  experienced  sea- 
man, who  makes  a  conspicuous  figure  in  the  history 
of  the  new  world,  accompanied  him.  They  sailed 
in  1603. 

After  a  short  stay  at  Tadoussac,  they  left  the 
shipping  there ;  and  proceeded,  in  a  light  boat,  with 
five  sailors  to  the  rapids  of  St.  Louis,  or  the  Indian 
town  of  Hochelaga,  which  Cartier  had  visited  sixty- 
eight  yeai's  before.  They  carried  on  some  traffic 
with  the  natives,  and  joining  the  shipping,  returned 
to  France. 


w 


[1G02 

made 
same 
•n  lati- 
ear,  to 
inlands, 
no  ac- 
ion  be- 
ok  out, 

th  died 

le,  and 

son  of 

to  the 
ividual 
merica, 

quired 
chiefly 
n  were 
'epare'd 
;iven  to 
granted 
loveries 
)t.  Law- 
ed  sea- 
history 
y  sailed 

left  the 
at,  with 
3  Indian 
d  sixty- 
2  traffic 
eturned 


004J 


THE  SECOND. 


96 


Their  patron,  the  Commandier  de  la  Chatte,  had 
died  during  their  absence,  and  his  powers  had  been 
vested  by  the  king,  in  Pierre  de  Guard,  Sieur  du 
Monts,  to  whom  had  also  been  granted  the  exclusive 
trade,  in  furs  and  peltries  from  the  40th  to  the  50th 
degree  of  north  latitude,  with  the  authority  of  grant- 
ing land,  as  far  as  the  46th.  He  was  also  created 
Vice  Admiral,  and  Lieutenant-General  over  that 
extent  of  country.  He  was  allowed  the  free  exer- 
cise of  his  religion  (the  Calvinist)  in  America,  for 
himself  and  his  people.  He  covenanted  to  settle 
the  country,  and  establish  the  Roman  Catholic  reli- 
gion among  the  Indians. 

The  grantee  fitted  out  four  vessels,  one  of  which 
was  intended  for  the  fur  trade,  at  Tadoussac.  Pont- 
grave  was  directed  to  proceed  with  another  to  Can- 
ceaux,  to  sail  through  the  canal  between  Royal 
Island  and  that  of  St.  John,  and  to  drive  interlopers 
away.  Dumontz  intended  to  go  to  Acadie,  with 
the  other  two. 

The  expedition  left  Havre  de  Grace,  the  seventh 
of  May  1604.  In  the  following  month,  Dumontz 
entered  a  port  of  Acadie,  in  which  he  found  a  ves- 
sel trading,  in  violation  of  his  exclusive  privilege;  he 
confiscated  it,  and  gave  the  name  of  Rossignol  (that 
of  his  master)  to  the  port.  He  proceeded  to  ano- 
ther place,  to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  Port  Mou- 
ton,  from  the  circumstance  of  a  sheep  being  drowned 
there.  He  landed  his  men  here,  and  staid  one 
month,  while  Champlain  was  exploring  the  coast. 
They  afterwards  proceeded  to  an  island,  to  which 
the  name  of  St.  Croix  was  given.  They  there  com- 
mitted some  wheat  to  the  ground,  which  succeeded 
amazingly. 

During  the  winter,  the  French  suffered  much  for 
want  of  water.    The  difficulty  they  found  in  procur- 


■;  1  m 

i.i  ♦ 

«||U 

1 

1 

^  1 

■••f' 

iW 


" )  ■' 


v.*''  ■ 


:Mn 


36 


CHAPTER 


[1604 


ing  a  supply  from  the  continent,  induced  them  to  use 
melted  snow.  This  brought  on  tl^e  scurvy,  which 
made  great  havock  among  them.  As  soon  as  ihe 
weather  grew  moderate,  Dumontz  vent  in  search  ot" 
a  more  favourable  spot.  He  sailed  along  the  coast, 
and  up  the  rivers  Penobscot  and  Pentagoct.  Un- 
able to  find  a  suitable  place,  he  returned  to  the 
island,  where  he  was  soon  met  by  Pontgrave.  Des- 
pairing of  success  there,  he  moved  his  men  to  Port 
Royal.  Pontgrave  w.as  so  delighted  with  the  place, 
that  he  solicited  and  obtained  from  Dumontz  a  grant 
of  it,  which  was  afterwards  confirmed  by  the  king. 

More  attentive  to  acquire  wealth  by  a  trade  in 
furs  and  peltries,  than  a  subsistence  by  the  culture 
of  the  soil,  Pontgrave  derived  but  little  advantage 
irom  his  grant. 

In  the  autumn,  Dumontz  rphirnpd  to  France.  The 
complaints  of  the  merchants  of  Dieppe  and  St..  Ma- 
loes,  who  represented  his  privilege  as  destructive  of 
the  fisheries,  from  which  these  cities  derived  great 
advantages,  induced  the  kinsr  to  revoke  it.  Undis- 
mayed by  this  untoward  event,  he  prevailed  on  Pou- 
trincourt  to  fit  out  a  ship  for  the  relief  of  the  colo- 
nists, at  Port  Royal. 

Acadie,  had  in  the  meanwhile,  attracted  the  at- 
tention of  the  English.  The  earls  of  Southampton 
and  Arundel  fitted  out  a  ship,  the  command  of  which 
they  gave  to  Weymouth.  He  sailed  from  the  Downs 
on  the  thirtieth  of  March  1605,  and  after  a  passage 
ot  forty-four  days ,  reached  the  continent  between 
the  forty-first  and  forty-second  degrees  of  north  lati- 
tude; coasting  it  northerly,  he  entered  the  river 
Penobscot,  and  ascended  it  upwards  of  sixty  miles. 
The  plans  of  his  employers,  were  not  agricultural ; 
the  discovery  of  mines  of  the  precious  metals,  and 
the  purchase  of  furs  and  peltries,  were  the  objects 
they  had  in  view.     After  trafficking  for  awhile  with 


^■mp 


1606] 


THE  SECOND. 


tr- 


3r 


m  t 


the  Indians,  and  setting  up  crosses  (in  token  of  hi$ 
having  taken  possession  of  the  country)  in  different 
parts  of  Ihe  banks  of  the  river,  he  returned  to  Eng- 
land, carrying  thither  a  Sagamore  and  five  other 
chiefs. 

The  ship,  which  Dumontz  had  induced  Poutrin- 
court  to  fit  out  for  Acadie,  left  La  Rochelle,  on  the 
twelfth  of  May  1606;  her  passage  was  tedious.  Left 
so  long  without  assistance,  the  colonists  began  to 
despair.  Pontgrave  had  used  in  vain  his  best  ef- 
forts, to  inspire  them  with  confidence  and  patience. 
At  last,  unable  to  withstand  their  clamours  any  longer, 
he  embarked  with  them  for  France ;  leaving  behind 
two  men  only,  who  willingly  remained  in  the  fort, 
to  preserve  the  property,  which  the  smallness  of  the 
only  vessel  he  could  procure  prevented  him  from 
carrying  away.  He  had  not  left  sight  of  French  bay, 
when  he  met  a  barque,  by  which  he  was  informed 
of  the  arrival  of  Poutrincourt,  at  Canceaux.  This 
induced  him  to  retrograde,  and  on  re-entering  Port 
Royal,  he  found  there  Poutrincourt,  who  had  passed 
between  the  continent  and  the  island  of  Cape 
Breton. 

Abundance  being  thus  restored  to  the  colony,  the 
chiefs  gave  their  undivided  attention  to  its  security. 
Fortifications  were  erected,  and  land  inclosed  and 
cultivated.  Employment  checked  idleness  and  its 
consequence,  disease ;  the  friendship  of  the  natives 
was  secured,  and  the  colony  began  to  thrive.  Du- 
montz' affairs  in  France,  had  not  been  equally  pros- 
perous. He  was  unable  to  recover  his  privilege,  and 
received  a  very  trifling  indemnification.  He  was  at 
last  permitted  to  exercise  it,  during  one  year ;  at  the 
expiration  of  which,  it  was  to  be  enjoyed  by  the 
Marchioness  of  Guercheville,  a  lady  of  great  distinc- 
tion, at  the  court  of  France;  but,  this  favour  was 


^'   'f'  ■■ 

uilUH 

'  ■'   f  1*.  *  '  f; 

^  '/m 

.;■*  •'.:  ' 

iTV    ■■< 

. '  . 

■  :.-^.t: 

'i, 

v:v,'i! 

#.;■•■■;!' 


■■,  I: 


,         f 


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111 


m 

nil 


38 


CHAPTER 


[iGOt; 


y 


f 


burdened  with  the  obligation  of  making  a  settlement 
on  the  banks  of  the  St.  Lawrence.  His  former 
friends  had  not  abandoned  him;  but  their  object 
was  not  colonization,  but  traffic  with  the  Indians. 
They  fitted  out  two  ships,  which  they  placed  under 
the  orders  of  Champlain  and  Pontgrave,  who  were 
sent  to  trade  at  Tadoussac. 

In  the  meanwhile,  a  plan  had  been  adopted  in 
England,  under  the  auspices  of  James  the  first, 
which  was  the  origin  of  the  extension  of  his  domin- 
ions to  the  western  hemisphere.  Letters  patent 
had  been  issued  on  the  tenth  of  May  1606,  granting 
to  Sir  Thomas  Gates  and  his  associates,  the  territo- 
ries in  America,  lying  on  the  coast,  between  the  thirty- 
fourth  and  forty-fifth  degrees,  either  belonging  to  the 
king,  or  not  possessed  by  any  christian  prince  or 
people.  The  grantees  were  divided  into  two  com- 
panies; 

The  southern  was  required  to  settle  between  the 
34th  and  41st,  and  the  northern  between  the  38th 
and  45th.  But  neither  was  to  settle  within  one  hun- 
dred miles  from  any  establishment  made  by  the  other. 

The  northern  company  fitted  out  a  vessel  the 
same  year ;  but  she  was  taken  by  the  Spaniards,  who 
claimed  the  exclusive  righ<  of  navigating  the  Ameri- 
can seas.  During  the  next,  they  sent  two  vessels, 
in  which  were  embarked  about  two  hundred  colo- 
nists, who  were  landed  near  Sagadehoc,  in  the  fall. 
They  erected  a  small  fortification,  to  which  they 
gave  the  name  of  Fort  George.  The  winter  was 
extremely  severe.  The  leader,  and  some  of  the 
principal  colonists,  fell  victims  to  the  diseases,  which 
the  great  cold  produced.  The  rest,  hearing  of  the 
death  of  their  most  infiuencial  patron,  by  the  vessel 
that  brought  them  provisions  in  the  spring,  returned 
to  England  quite  dispirited. 


1 608  J 


THE  SECOND. 


in 


The  southern  company  was  more  fortunate.  Its 
first  expedition  consisted  of  a  vessel  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty  tons,  and  two  barques,  which  besides 
their  crews,  carried  one  hundred  and  fifty  colonists. 
The  command  of  it  was  given  to  Newport.  It  sailed 
from  the  Thames,  on  the  nineteenth  of  December 
1606,  and  did  not  enter  the  bay  of  Chesapeake,  till 
the  seventeenth  of  April  following.  It  proceeded  up 
the  river,  then  called  Powhatan,  but  to  which  New- 
port gave  the  name  of  James  river,  on  the  shores  of 
which,  was  laid  the  foundation  of  the  oldest  town  of 
English  origin,  now  existing  in  the  new  world ;  it  was 
called  James  Town.  St.  Augustine  in  Florida,  and 
Port  Royal  in  Acadie,  now  Annapolis  of  Nova  Sco- 
tia, are  the  only  towns  on  the  northern  continent, 
which,  in  point  of  antiquity,  rightly  claim  the  prece- 
dence of  it. 

About  fifteen  months  after,  on  the  third  of  July 
1608,  Champlain  laid,  on  the  northern -shore  of  the 
St.  Lawrence,  the  foundation  of  the  city  of  Quebec, 
at  the  distance  of  three  hundred  and  sixty  miles  from 
the  sea.  The  place  was  called  by  the  Indians  Que- 
becio,  a  word  indicating  a  narrowed  place;  the 
width  of  the  stream  there  diminishing  from  three  to 
one  mile,  while  about  thirty  miles  below,  it  expands 
to  twelve  and  fifteen. 

Champlain  was  joined  here,  in  the  spring,  by  Pont- 
grave.  Parties  of  the  Hurons,  Algonquins  and  Mon- 
tagnez,  were  preparing  for  an  expedition  against 
the  Iroquois,  and  he  was  induced  to  accompany 
them.  He  imagined,  that  aided  by  these  three 
nations,  who  were  numerous,  and  had  a  strong  in- 
terest to  unite  with  him,  he  would  be  able  succes- 
sively to  subdue  all  others ;  but  he  was  ignorant  that 
the  Iroquois,  who  kept  in  awe  every  Indian,  within  a 
circle  of  three  hundred  miles,  were  about  to  be  sup- 


%"•>. 


*   ,  , 


'#■ 


'•;y 


m 


M 

A  +1 


■  .(  : '.  "i'l 


■l'|.>1 


1  '■■•m 


f;       % 


tt) 


CHAPTER 


[1608 


ported  by  an  European  nation,  jealous  of  the  pro- 
gress of  his  own  in  Canada. 

This  year  Henry  Hudson,  an  English  seaman,  in 
the  service  of  the  Dutch  East  India  Company,  sent 
to  seek  a  northwest  passage  to  China,  discovered 
the  river  which  still  bears  his  name,  tho'  sometimes 
called  the  North  river,  and  now  separates  the  states 
of  New  York  and  New  Jersey. 

Champlain,  ascending  the  St.  Lawience,  entered 
the  river,  to  which  the  name  of  Sorel  was  afterwardg 
^iven,  in  the  company  of  his  red  allies.  They  went 
up  this  stream,  as  far  as  its  rapids,  near  the  place 
now  called  Chambly.  Here,  finding  it  impossible  to 
proceed  farther  in  their  boats,  they  marched  along 
the  shore ;  the  Indians  bearing  on  their  shoulder^ 
their  bark  canoes,  which  alone  could  now  be  of  any 
use. 

A  few  days  after,  towards  sun  set,  they  perceived 
the  camp  of  the  Iroquois.  The  allied  army,  having 
taken  some  slight  precaution,  went  to  rest.  Before 
dawn,  Champlain  placed  two  Frenchmen  in  the 
woods,  that  they  might,  as  soon  as  light  beamed,  fall 
on  the  flank  of  the  enemy.  The  Algonquins  and 
Hurons  were  divided  into  two  bands.  AH  were 
armed  as  the  foe,  with  bows  and  arrows ;  but  great 
reliance  was  placed  in  the  fire-arms  of  the  French, 
to  whom  it  was  recommended  to  take  good  aim  at 
three  Iroquois  chi<*is,  whom  high  leathers,  decora- 
ting their  heads,  rendered  conspicuous. 

The  Algonquins  and  Hurons  advanced  side  byside^ 
till  within  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  the  Iro- 
quois ;  they  then  opened,  and  the  French,  rushing 
between,  poured  in  their  fire.  Two  of  the  obnoxious 
leaders  of  the  enemy,  who  had  been  designated  to 
the  French,  fell ;  the  third  was  wounded.  The  Al- 
gonquins and  Hurons  yelled  and  discharged  volhes  of 


^. 


i**" 


1610] 


THE  SECONB. 


4J 


arrows,  while  the  French  gave  a  second  fire.  This 
put  the  enemy  to  Hight ;  he  was  pursued :  several  of 
his  men  were  killed,  and  a  greater  number  made 
prisoners.  The  victors  lost  none  of  their  men; 
about  fifteen  were  wounded,  but  not  one  dangerous- 
ly. A  large  supply  of  provisions  was  found  in  the 
enemy's  camp,  of  which  ihe  pursuers  were  in  much 
need. 

Champlain  returned,  with  his  allies,  to  Quebec, 
where  Pontgrave  soon  after  arrived.  They  sailed 
together  for  France,  leaving  the  command  of  the 
colony  to  Pierre  Chauvin. 

Henry  the  fourth  was  much  pleased  with  the  ac- 
count Champlain  gave  him  of  the  settlement  on  the 
St.  Lawrence,  and  gave  to  his  American  dominions 
the  name  of  New  France.^  Dumontz  was  then  at 
court,  using  his  best  efforts,  especially  with  the 
Marchioness  of  Guercheville,  to  recover  his  privilege; 
but  without  success.  His  associates,  the  principal 
of  whom  were  le  Gendre  and  Collier,  did  not  for- 
sake him.  They  fitted  out  two  ships,  the  command 
of  which  they  gave  to  Champlain  and  Pontgrave. 
The  views  of  these  men  were  quit-  different. 
Champlain  had  most  at  heart  the  success  of  the  col- 
ony; Pontgrave  thought  of  nothingvbut  the  acquisi- 
tion of  wealth,  by  traffic  with  the  Indiaiis. 

The  first  reached  Tadoussac  on  the  twenty-sixth 
of  April  1610,  and  proceeded  to  Quebec  without 
delay.  He  found  the  colony  in  a  prosperous  con- 
dition. Wheat  and  rye  had  been  sown  the  preced- 
ing year,  and  succeeded  well ;  vines  had  been  plant- 
ed, but  the  event  had  disappointed  the  hope  of  the 
farmer.  The  people  were  healthy,  and  the  Indians 
much  pleased  with  their  new  neighbours,  among 
whom  they  found  a  supply  of  provisions,  when  the 
precarious  resource  of  the  chase  rendered  it  necee** 

fcOU.  h  6 


'I'  i 

■i'if.  N't 


ny 


n 


''H'i 


■1  ■'V-t?! 


<f- 


m 


>i  ■ 


42 


CHAPTKH 


[IGIO 


m 


sary;  but  they  valued  the  whites  most,  on  account 
of  the  protection  they  afforded  against  the  irruptions 
of  the  Iroquois.  The  Hurons,  the  Algonquins  and  the 
Montagnes,  were  the  most  imme  liate  neighhours  of 
the  French.  The  first  dwelt  above  Quebec,  and 
the  two  other  below,  towards  Tadoussac. 

These  Indians  pressed  Champlain  to  accompany 
thorn,  on  a  second  expf.lition  against  the  Iroquois; 
th<'ir  warriors  bring  already  assembled  at  the  mouth 
of  the  river  Sorel.  On  liis  arrivnl  there,  he  found 
the  nund)er  of  thes*'  inucli  smaller  than  it  had  been 
rrepresenled.  A  party,  of  about  one  hundred  of  the 
enemy,  was  hovering  in  the  neighbourhood  ;  he  was 
told  he  might  surprise  them,  if  leaving  his  boat,  he 
went  up  in  a  light  canoe  of  the  Indians.  He  did  so, 
with  four  of  his  countrymen,  who  had  accompanied 
him,  and  he  had  hardly  proceeded  three  miles  up, 
when  his  Indians,  without  saying  one  word,  jumped 
out  of  the  canoe,  and  without  leaving  a  guide  with 
the  whites,  ran  along  the  siiore  as  fast  as  they  could. 

The  country  was  swampy,  and  the  musquitces  and 
other  insects,  extremely  troublesome.  Champlain 
was  advancing  slowly,  in  uncertainty  and  doubt, 
when  an  Algonquin  chief  came  to  hurry  him,  saying 
the  battle  was  begun.  He  hastened,  and  soon  heard 
the  yells  of  the  combatants.  The  Iroquois  had  been 
found,  and  attacked  in  a  small  entrenchment,  and 
had  repelled  the  assailants.  These  taking  courage, 
on  the  approach  of  their  white  allies,  returned  to  the 
charge.  The  conflict  was  obstinate;  Champlain 
was  wounded  in  the  neck,  and  one  of  his  men  in  the 
arm.  This  did  not  prevent  a  galling  fire  from  being 
at  first  poured  in ;  but  at  last,  the  ammunition  was 
exhausted;  the  enemy,  greatly  distressed  by  the 
musketry,  was  elated  on  its  silence.  The  French, 
placing  themselves  at  the  head  of  their  allies,  march- 


fiuio 


?  n 


10 13] 


THK  HKCONU. 


43 


0(1  to  the  attack  nucl  wciv  n'pelled  ;  Imt  otiiors, 
wfioin  Chiinpl.nii  \{.n\  left  lu'liiatl,  comiiio  up,  tho 
cli  iri»e  was  roncwed,  and  iIk-  Inxpiois  were  moslly 
killed  or  woiKid*'  I,  and  lljo^»'  who  atleinpled  to  es- 
cape were  diownod  in  Hie  slre.un. 

Oil  tlie  lourle<Milli  ol  May,  ileiiry  llie  fourth  fell 
under  the  tlaj^i^'M-  of  llaviiilLie,  in'tlie  fifly-seventh 
year  of  his  a^e,  and  was  succeeded  hy  his  son,  Louis 
th(,'  thirteenth. 

The  Marchioness  of  Guercheville  was  now  in  the 
enjoyment  of  the  privilege,  which  had  heen  granted 
to  Dumontz;  who, after  its  revocation,  had  heen  per- 
mitted to  resume  it  for  one  year.  Her  avowed  ob- 
ject was  the  conversion  of  the  hidians,  and  the  pro- 
motion of  the  Catholic  religion,  in  Acadie.  For  this 
purpose,  she  sent  thither,  in  the  following  year,  two 
Jesuits,  fathers  Briart  and  Masse,  as  missionaries  to 
Port  Royal.  This  is  the  first  spiritual  succour,  sent 
to  this  part  of  the  continent,  from  France. 

Champlain  discovered  the  lake  to  which  he  gave, 
and  which  still  bears,  his  name. 

The  Dutch  began,  in  1613,  their  first  establishment 
on  the  northern  continent,  in  the  island  of  Manhattan. 
They  called  it  Nova  Belgica,  and  its  principal  town 
(now  the  city  of  New  York)  New  Amsterdam. 

The  Marchioness  of  Guercheville  fitted  out  two 
ships  at  Honfieur,  for  Acadie.  She  gave  the  com- 
mand of  them  to  De  la  Haussaie,  whom  she  intended 
placing  at  the  head  of  her  atTtirs  there.  He  sailed 
on  the  twelfth  of  March  1(>13,  and  cast  anchor  in  the 
port  de  la  Haive,  on  the  sixth  of  May.  He  erected 
there  a  pillar,  with  the  armorial  escutcheon  of  the 
Marchioness.  From  tlience  he  went  to  Port  Royal, 
where  he  found  only  an  apothecary,  who  commanded, 
two  Jesuiti  and  three  oth'^r  persons — Becancourt, 
whom  she  had  entrusted  with  her  atlaire  there,  being 


fM( 


^ij- 


;'i 


i .' 


44 


CHAPTER 


[1615 


M' 


gone  with  the  rest  of  the  colonists,  into  the  country 
iti  (jiu'st  o(  provisiotiy.  Having  taken  the  Jesuits  on 
board,  l)e  la  Saussaie  pro 'ceded  to  tlie  river  Penob- 
sioi.  oi.  ilu'  northern  shore  of  which,  he  erected  a 
small  ibrt  with  the  nid  of  his  crew,  and  of  twenty-tive 
colonists,  whom  he  had  brought  from  France,  and 
a  few  cahins  tor  their  accommodation.  He  called 
the  place  St.  Sauveur. 

He  was  hardly  settled  there,  when  Samuel  Argal, 
an  Englishman  from  Virginia,  with  eleven  men 
of  his  nation,  came  into  the  neighbourhood,  and 
hearing  of  the  French  settlement,  determined  on 
destroying  it;  viewing  it  as  an  encroachment  on  the 
rights  of  the  northern  company,  within  whose  grant 
he  conceived  it  to  be.  The  French,  being  unprovi* 
ded  with  artillery  (and  the  English  having  tour 
pieces  of  cannon)  made  but  a  leeLv'e  resistance. 
They  had  several  men  killed.  After  iheir  surren- 
der, the  settlement  was  abandoned  to  piljage  and 
destruction ;  the  vanquished  were  permitted  to  re- 
turn to  France;  some  of  them,  however,  voluntarily 
Ibllowed  Argal  to  Virginia.  The  escutcheon  of  the 
King  of  England  was  substituted  for  that  of  the  Mar- 
chioness. Argal,  belbre  he  sailed,  sent  some  of  his 
men  to  St.  Croix  and  Port  koyal,  where,  as  at  St. 
Snnveur,  the  houses  of  the  French  were  consumed 
by  fire. 

The  death  of  Henry  the  fourth  had  left  Dumontz 
without  support ;  Champlain  had  found  a  patron  in 
the  Earl  of  Soissons,  whom  the  queen  regent  had 
placed  at  the  head  of  the  affairs  of  New  France; 
but  this  nobleman  died  soon  after,  and  was  succeed- 
ed by  the  Prince  of  Conde.  Under  the  auspices 
of  the  latter,  Champlain  sailed  with  Pontgrave, 
who  liod  lately  returned  from  Acadie.  Landing  at 
Quebec,  on  the  seventh  of  May  1613,  and  finding 


flGlS 


l(i]6j 


THE  SECOND. 


4^ 


I 


»untry 
lits  on 
enob- 
ted  a 
ly-tive 
c,  and 
called 

Argal, 
\  men 
1,   and 
ed   on 
on  tlie 
I  grant 
iprovi- 
jr   lour 
stance, 
Burren- 
^e  and 
[  to  re- 


ntarilj 

of  the 

e  Mar- 

ot'  his 

at  St. 
sumed 


every  thing  in  good  order,  he  proceeded  up  the  river, 
and  laid  the  foundation  of  the  city  of  Montreal.  He 
visited  the  Ouatatnais.  and  joining  Foritgrave,  whom 
he  had  left  trading  below,  returned  with  him  to  St. 
Maloes.  He  formed  there  an  association  with  mer- 
chants of  that  city,  of.Rouen  and  of  La  Rochelle,  and 
by  the  aid  of  the  Pnnce  of  Conde,  obtained  a  charter 
for  it. 

The  English  northern  company,  deterred  by  the 
ill  success  of  the  colony  they  had  sent  to  Sagadehoc 
five  years  before,  had  in  the  meanwhile  limited  their 
enterprise  to  a  iew  voyages,  undertaken  for  the  sole 
purposes  of  fishing  and  trading  for  furs  and  peltries 
with  the  natives.  In  one  of  these,  John  Smith  made 
in  1614,  an  accurate  map  from  Cape  Cod  to  Penob- 
scot river.  He  laid  it  before  the  Prince  of  Wales, 
who  gave  the  country  the  appellation  of  New  Eng- 
land, under  which  the  territory  between  the  Dutch 
colony  of  Nova  Belgica,  and  the  French  of  Canada 
became  known  to  Europe. 

The  company,  lately  formed  by  Champlain,  at  St. 
Maloes,  fitted  out  their  first  expedition  for  New 
France,  in  the  Ibllowing  year.  He  carried  thither 
four  recollet  friars,  whom  he  landed  at  Quebec,  on 
the  twenty-fitth  of  March  1615.  He  next  proceeded 
to  Montreal,  where  he  found  a  large  par^y  of  the 
Hurons,  who  proposed  a  third  expedition  against  the 
Iroquois.  He  assented  to  it,  provided  they  would 
wait  till  his  return  from  Quebec,  where  hirs  presence 
was  absolutely  necessary ;  this  was  agreed  to,  and  he 
sat  off*. 

The  Indians,  however,  grew  soon  tired  of  waiting^ 
for  him,  and  proceeded  with  a  tew  Frenchmen  he 
had  left  in  Montreal  and  father  Joseph  le  Caron,  one 
of  the  recollet  friars  lately  arrived.  Champlain 
reached  Montreal,  a  few  days  after  their  departure^ 


\'  ''■■A 


:  'i1 


;!i 


^t 


■^;'/^''l)vi 


EJ.-* 


'  'lb 


h 


4 


*( 


^6 


("IIAPTKU 


[10  It: 


and  was  much  vrxe<l  at  IIkmi*  rondiict.  Ifo  would 
liavc  (IcHisUMi  frodi  iollowiii^  (hriii.  Iiad  lir  not  iii'iu'rd 
the  Iriar,  who  was  with  ihcin,  mijjfhl  In-  ill  trratrd. 
He  embarked  with  two  l^"ejiehin<'ii  and  ten  hnlianH, 
an<l  joined  th<>  Huiotis  in  their  villa^rp.  Platting 
hinistdf  al  their  head,  he  led  them  t()\var<lH  the  Iro- 
quois, who  wer(!  fou;id  iti  an  enlrenehinent.  the  ap- 
proaches to  which  were  in  every  direction,  ohslruct- 
ed  by  trunks  of  large  trtu's,  still  armed  with  ail  their 
branches.  Tiie  ass;»ilants,  r'^'|)ulsed  on  their  tirst 
approach,  atlempled  to  set  lire  to  the  trees;  but  the 
besiegers  liid  provided  themselves,  against  this  mode 
otollence.  with  a  large  sipiply  of  water.  C/hamplain 
now  erected  a  hi<j;h  scvdlMd,  o  i  whieh  he  placed  his 
countrymen,  whos-  galliig  lire  greatly  annoyed  the 
enemy  and  would  li.ive  ensured  victory,  ilthe  Hurons 
had  not  be(;omt*  untract.able  and  unmindful  of  the 
orders  of  their  leader.  He  was  at  last  wounded  in 
the  leg,  an  accident,  which  drove  his  allies  from  pre- 
sumption  to  despair;  and  he  found  himself  compelled 
to  order  a  retreat.  It  was  m^ide  in  a  better  order 
than  he  had  expected;  for,  notwithstanding  the  pur- 
euit,  he  did  not  lose  one  man. 

Champlain  wiritered  in  the  neighbourhood,  unable 
to  procure  a  guide  for  his  return  to  Quebec.  He 
visited  the  villages  near  him,  as  far  as  Lake  Nipis- 
sing.  In  the  spring,  he  induced  a  few  Indians,  who 
had  become  attached  lo  him,  to  pilot  father  Joseph 
and  himself  to  Quebec,  where  they  landed  on  the 
eleventh  of  Jul3\     He  soon  after  went  over  to  France. 

During  his  absence,  two  Frenchmen,  on  a  trading- 
excursion,  were  killed  by  the  Hurons.  On  his  re- 
turn, he  was  planning  an  expedition  against  his  for- 
mer allies,  in  order  to  avenge  his  countrymen's 
death;  but  the  former,  apprehensive  ot  the  conse- 
quences, if  they  gave  him  time  to  make  his  prepara- 


?  pur- 


ipis- 
who 
oseph 
the 


lis  re- 
for- 
iTien's 
joiise- 
jpara- 


lC'»oj 


TIIK  SECOND. 


4? 


tinii3,  (Irtcrrninnl  on  strikin};  thr  tint  l)low,  and 
(lerttroynij^  ('vcM-y  wliilr  m.m  in  ('unmhi.  VVilh  this 
ohj'ct  in  view,  (hfv  assiMuUli'tl  about  ri«^hl  hundn-d 
warriors,  near  Trois  Kivlrrcs.  Hrolhcr  Maritic,  r)  lay 
recollot  friar,  who  had  been  stationed  as  ii  srhool 
master  in  ihc  srlthMiuMil,  havin<^  rrcM'ivtnl  early  iii- 
loi  illation  ol  their  desiyjii,  siiccessrully  exerted  liiin- 
:^r[i  to  dissiia(h>  them  noin  it,  hoidin*;  onl  the  hope 
that,  ir  they  ahaii(h)iied  il,aii<l  i;a\e  up  the  ussaHsins, 
Chaniphiin  woidd  he  prcvaih'd  on  to  torl)ear  taking 
the  just  revenge  he  meditated.  Accordingly,  at 
their  re(|uertt,  he  went  down  to  (iuel)e('.  Charnplain 
demanded  two  Indians,  who  had  heen  designated,  as 
the  perpetrators  of  tht;  murder.  One  of  them  wat 
9<Mit,  and  with  him  a  large  (juantity  of  furs  and  pel- 
tries, in  order,  according  to  the  Indian  custom,  to 
cover  the  dead,  or  atone  for  the  crime.  Prudential 
considerations  induced  Charnplain  to  appear  satis- 
lied  with  this. 

The  troubles,  that  distracted  France  during  the 
minority  of  Louis  the  thirteenth,  prevented  the  re- 
gency from  attending  to  the  possessions  of  the  crown, 
in  America.  Chainplain  continueil  to  make  frequent, 
but  unsuccessful  voyages  to  France,  in  search  ol 
aid;  and  his  associates,  '^atistied  with  advancing 
their  own  interests  by  trallic,  did  not  think  of  pro- 
moting the  settlement  or  agriculture  of  the  colony. 

The  prince  ot  (/onde. sohl  in  I(i2(),  his  vice  royalty 
to  his  brother-in-law.  the  Marshal  of  iViontmorency. 
This  nobleman,  appointed  Champlain  his  lieutenant, 
who,  encouraged  by  the  promises  of  his  new  patron, 
took  his  family  over.  On  his  landii.-g  at  Tadoussac, 
he  found  three  traders  of  la  Hochelle,  who,  in  con- 
tempt of  the  king's  orders,  and  in  violation  oi  the 
company's  rights,  were  trailicking  with  the  Indians, 
and  so  far  forgot  themselves  as  to  sup[)iy  them  with 


.1 


'*■ 


■  "i 


1^1 


4^ 


CHAPTER 


[1620 


fire  arms  and  ammunition ;  a  measure  which,  until 
then,  had  been  cautiously  avoided. 

On  the  twentieth  of  December,  a  ship  from  Eng- 
land landed  one  hundred  and  twenty  men  near  Cape 
Cod,  who  laid  the  foundation  of  a  colony,  which,  in 
course  of  time,  became  greatly  conspicuous  in  the 
annals  of  the  northern  continent.  They  called  their 
first  town  New  Plymouth. 

Phihp  the  third,  on  the  twenty-first  of  March  of 
the  following  year,  the  forty-third  of  his  age,  trans- 
mitted the  crown  of  Spain  to  his  son,  Philip  the 
fourth. 

This  year,  James  the  first  of  England,  granted  to 
Sir  William  Alexander,  all  the  territory  taken  by 
Argal  from  the  French  in  America,  giving  it  the  ap- 
pellation of  Nova  Scotia,  instead  of  that  of  Acadie, 
under  which  it  was  then  known.  The  grantee  divi- 
ded it  into  two  provinces :  the  first,  which  included 
the  peninsula,  retained  the  name  in  the  royal  grant; 
the  second,  including  the  rest  of  the  territory,  was 
called  Nova  Alexandria.  The  king  proposed  to 
create  fifty  baronets,  from  among  the  associates  of 
Sir  William,  who  would  contribute  most  liberally  to 
the  settlement  of  the  territory  granted. 

The  Iroquois,  apprehending,  that  if  the  French 
were  Buffered  to  gain  ground  in  Canada,  the  Hurons 
and  Algonquins  would  acquire  with  their  help,  a  pre- 
ponderance over  their  nation,  determined  openly  to 
attack  the  whites.  Accordingly  they  fell  on  a  small 
party  of  the  latter,  near  the  falls  of  St.  Louis ;  but 
timely  information  of  the  approach  of  the  liidians, 
enabled  the  French  to  repel  them.  On  their  return, 
they  led  away  father  William  Poulain,  a  recoUet 
monk;  but  the  French  had  taken  an  Iroquois  chief 
t)f  considerable  note,  and  the  holy  man,  as  they  were 
tying  him  to  the  stake,  received  his  freedom  and  hip 


X', 


1622] 


THE  SECOND. 


49 


life,  on  the  proposal  of  his  countrymen  to  give  the 
warrior  in  exchange  tor  him. 

Another  party,  in  thirty  canoes,  came  to  Quebec 
and  surrounded  the  convent  of  the  recollets,  on  St. 
Charles  river.  The  pious  monks  had  fortified  their, 
till  then,  peaceful  monastery.  The  Iroquois  hovered 
for  several  days  around  it,  and  retreated  after  having 
captured  a  small  party  of  Hurons,  who  had  come  to 
the  relief  of  their  godly  fathers.  After  destroying 
their  huts  and  burning  some  of  their  prisoners,  near 
the  holy  place,  the  Iroquois  withdrew.  Champlain 
found  the  force  he  could  command  too  weak  to  ven- 
ture on  a  pursuit.  At  the  solicitation  of  the  princi- 
pal inhabitants,  he  sent  father  George  le  Baillif  to 
France,  to  lay  the  distressed  situation  of  the  colony 
before  the  sovereign,  and  implore  the  needed  relief. 

Quebec  in  1622,  fourteen  years  after  its  settle- 
ment, had  only  fifty  inhabitants,  men,  women  and 
children.  A  brisk  trade  was  carried  on  with  the 
natives  at  Tadoussac  below,  and  at  Montreal  and 
Trois  Rivieres  above  the  city. 

The  charter,  which  the  Prince  of  Conde  had  pro- 
cured to  the  company  of  merchants  of  St.  Maloes, 
Rouen  and  la  Rochelle,  which  Champlain  had  form- 
ed, was  now  revoked  and  its  privilege  granted  to 
William  de  Caen  and  Edmund  de  Caen,  his  nephews. 

The  uncle  came  to  Quebec,  and  although  a  pro- 
testant,  was  cordially  received.  He  gave  the  direc- 
tion of  his  affairs  in  Canada  to  Pontgrave,  who  was, 
by  the  ill  state  of  his  health,  obliged  to  follow  hi? 
principal  to  France,  in  the  following  year. 

Champlain,  having  received  intelligence  that  the 
Hurons,  his  former  allies,  meditated  an  union  with 
the  Iroquois  against  the  French,  sent  among  them 
three  recollet  monks — Fathers  Joseph  le  Caron  and 
Nicholas  Viel  and  brother  Nicholas  Saghart.     The 

7 


■Hf' 


LOU.  h 


1^ 


'i.iiJ 


'k 


50 


CHAPTER 


[1625 


timely  exertion  of  the  influence  of  these  pious 
men,  had  the  effect  of  averting  the  impending 
calamity.  He  now  laid  the  foundation  of  the 
fortress  of  Quebec,  and  went  to  France  with  his 
family. 

Henry  de  Levy,  Duke  of  Ventadour,  had  suc- 
ceeded his  uncle  the  Marshal  of  Montmorency,  in 
the  vice-royalty  of  New  Frarice.  All  the  relief, 
which  the  solicitations  of  Champlain  could  obtain 
from  the  new  viceroy,  who  had  lately  withdrawn  from 
court,  and  received  holy  orders,  was  of  the  spiritual 
kind.  Father  Lallemand,  who  had  accompanied  de 
la  Saussaie  in  Acadie,  father  Masse,  of  whom  men- 
tion has  already  been  made,  and  father  Jean  de  Bre- 
beuf,  all  three  of  the  order  of  the  Jesuits,  were  sent 
as  missionaries  to  Canada,  and  were  accompanied 
by  two  of  their  lay  brethren,  and  ffither  Daillon,  a 
recollet.  They  all  landed  at  Quebec,  in  1625. 
•  On  the  twenty-ninth  of  April  of  the  same  year,  on 
the  demise  of  James  the  first,  in  the  fifty-ninth  year 
of  his  age,  his  *Jon,  Charles  the  first,  ascended  the 
thrones  of  England  and  Scotland.  This  year  is  re- 
markable, as  the  one  in  which  the  French  and  Eng- 
lish made  their  first  settlements  in  the  West  India 
islands.  They  both  landed,  on  the  same  day,  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  island  of  St.  Christopher. 

Charles  the  first,  in  some  degree,  pursued  the  in- 
tentions of  his  father,  by  granting  patents  of  knight 
baronets  to  the  promoters  of  the  settlement  of  Nova 
Scotia.  The  original  scheme  was,  however,  defeat- 
ed, and  Sir  William  Alexander,  sold  his  property  in 
that  country  to  the  French.  He  was  Charles'  secre- 
tary of  state  for  Scotland,  and  was  created  Lord 
Stirling.  The  person,  who  had  inherited^his  title  in 
1776,  took  part  with  the  Americans,  and  served  the 
United  States  with  distinction,  as  a  general  officer 


[1625 


1626] 


THE  SECOND. 


61 


sue 


during  the  war,  which  terminated  by  the  recognition 
of  their  independence,  by  their  former  sovereign. 

Fathers  Dai  lion  and  Brebeuf,  some  time  atter  their 
arrival  at  Quebec,  sat  off  for  Trois  Rivieres,  where 
they  met  with  a  party  of  the  Hurons,  who  offered  to 
escort  them.  As  their  object  was  to  go  and  preach 
the  gospel  to  the  Indians,  they  accepted  the  offer, 
and  were  about  starting,  when  the  news  of  the  death 
of  father  Viel  induced  them  to  remain.  This 
father,  having  spent  some  time  with  the  Hurons,  left 
them  on  a  visit  to  Quebec  in  a  canoe,  with  two  of 
their  young  men.  Instead  of  the  usual  pass,  they 
took  the  branch  of  the  river,  which  runs  between  the 
islands  of  Montreal  and  Jesus,  commonly  called  the 
river  of  the  meadows,  in  which  there  is  a  fall,  and 
neglecting  to  make  a  small  portage,  they  attempted 
passing  over  the  fall.  In  doing  so,  the  canoe  upsat, 
and  the  father  with  an  Indian  boy,  who  waited  on 
him,  were  drowned.  The  fall  was,  from  this  circum- 
stance, called  le  sault  du  recollet.  The  Indians  made 
their  escape.  As  they  carried  away  the  father's 
baggage,  and  did  not  appear  well  disposed  before, 
they  were  strongly  suspected  of  premeditated  mur- 
der. 

Three  Jesuits,  father  Philibert,  Nouet  and  Anne 
de  Noue  and  a  brother,  came  to  Quebec  in  1626,  in 
a  vessel  chartered  by  their  order.  This  spiritual, 
was  accompanied  by  worldly  aid.  A  number  of 
useful  mechanics  came  also.  They  added  much  to 
the  appearance  of  the  place,  which  now  began  to 
take  that  of  a  town,  having  had  before  that  of  a  plan- 
tation only.  The  Indians  were  often  troublesome ; 
at  times,  killing  such  of  the  whites,  as  straggled  to 
any  distance.  Animosities  arose  between  the  in- 
habitants and  the  agents  of  the  de  Caens,  who  were 
protestants.     They  paid  but  little  attention  to  the 


;  -iiJ 


•!?r|s5 


i:"^ 


CHAPTER 


[1627 


culture  of  the  ground,  being  solicitous  only  of  collect- 
ing furs  and  peltries.  Such  was  the  situation  of  the 
colony,  when  Champlain  returned,  in  1627. 

Gustavus  Adolphus,  king  of  Sweden,  having  pa- 
tronized the  plan  of  Guliehn  Usselin,  for  establish- 
ing a  colony  near  that  of  the  Dutch  on  Hudson  river, 
a  number  of  Swedes  and  Fins  came  over  this  year, 
and  landed  on  Cape  Henlopen,  which  they  called 
Paradise  point ;  they  purchased  from  the  natives,  all 
the  land  from  the  Cape  to  the  falls  of  the  Delaware, 
and  began  their  settlement. 

In  the  month  of  May,  Louis  the  thirteenth  at  his 
camp.,  before  la  Rochelle,  issued  an  edict,  by  which 
a  number  of  individuals,  which  was  to  be  carried  to 
one  hundred,  were  incorporated  under  the  style  of 
"  the  company  of  New  France."  The  privilege  of 
the  de  Caens  was  expressly  revoked.  New  France 
and  Caroline  or  French  Florida,  were  transferred  to 
the  company ;  the  sovereign  reserving  only  the  faith 
and  homage  of  its  members  and  the  inhabitants  of 
the  country,  with  a  golden  crown,  on  the  accession 
of  every  king,  the  right  of  commissioning  the  officers 
of  the  highest  tribunal  of  justice,  presented  to  him, 
by  the  company,  the  power  of  casting  cannons,  erect- 
ifng  forts  and  doing  whatever  might  be  needed  for 
the  defence  of  the  country.  The  company  was  in- 
vested with  the  power  of  granting  land,  erecting 
dukedoms,  marquisates,  earldoms,  baronies,  &cc. 
An  exclusive  trade  in  furs  and  peltries  was  granted 
for  ever ;  and  in  every  thing  else,  during  fifteen  years. 
The  right  was,  however,  reserved  to  the  king's  sub- 
jects in  the  country,  to  purchase  furs,  peltries  and 
hides  from  the  Indians ;  under  the  obligation  of  sel- 
ling beaver  skins  to  the  factors  of  the  company,  at  a 
fixed  price.   ' 

The    company  covenanted  to    transport,  in   the 


16 
CO 

ch 
th< 


or 
in 


1628] 


THE  SECOND. 


53 


IS  in- 
cting 
&c. 
mted 
ears, 
sub- 
i  and 
sel- 
,at  a 

the 


course  of  the  first  year,  two  or  three  hundred  me- 
chanics of  different  trades  to  Canada ;  to  increase 
the  number  of  its  inhabitants,  within  fifteen  years,  to 
sixteen  thousand ;  to  lodge,  feed  and  maintain  the 
people  they  should  send  thither,  during  three  years, 
and  afterwards  to  grant  them  cleared  land,  sufficient 
for  their  support  and  supply  them  with  grain  for 
seed.  It  was  stipulated,  that  all  the  colonists  should 
be  native  French  and  Roman  catholics,  and  no  alien 
or  heretic  was  to  be  received ;  it  was  provided,  that 
in  every  settlement,  there  should  be  at  least  three 
priests  supported  by  the  company :  cleared  land  was 
to  be  allotted  for  their  support. 

The  company  was  composed  of  several  noblemen, 
wealthy  merchants  and  other  influential  characters, 
at  whose  head  was  the  Cardinal  of  Richelieu.  The 
Duke  of  Ventadour  surrendered  hip  office  of  viceroy 
to  the  king. 

The  first  efforts  of  the  company,  were  unsuccess- 
ful. Its  vessels  were  taken  by  the  English,  although 
there  was  no  war  between  them  and  the  French ; 
but  the  cabinet  of  St.  James  had  taken  umbrage  at 
the  siege  of  la  Rochelle. 

David  Kertz,  a  native  of  Dieppe,  but  a  refugee  in 
the  service  of  Charles  the  first,  instigated,  as  was 
supposed,  by  William  de  Caen,  who  was  exasperated 
at  the  loss  of  his  privilege,  cast  anchor,  with  a  small 
fleet  before  Tadoussac,  early  in  the  spring  of  the 
following  year,  and  sent  one  of  his  ships  to  destroy 
the  houses  and  seize  the  cattle  at  Cape  Tousmente : 
and  another  to  summon    Champlain    to   surrender 
Quebec.     The  French  chief  was  in  the  utmost  dis- 
tress for  provisions  and  ammunition.     He,  however, 
returned  a  bold  answer.     Kertz,  having,  in  the  mean 
while,  received  intelligence  of  the  approach  of  a 
number  of  vessels,  sent  by  the  company  to  carry 


AN 


Ml 


:Ut 


'i.il 


64 


CHAPTER 


[16i!Ji 


11 

fi- 

11 

f 

'II 

I'l 

II 

m 

^ 

m 

■'••1 

1 

i 

1 

'i 

men  and  provisions  to  Canada,  thought  it  more  ad- 
visable to  go  and  meet  them,  than  to  attempt  a 
siege. 

Roquemont,  who  commanded  the  company's  ships, 
cast  anchor  at  Gaspe,  from  whence  he  dispatched  a 
light  vessel  to  Quebec,  in  order  to  apprize  Cham- 

Elain  of  his  approach,  and  dehver  him  a  commission, 
y  which  he  was  appointed  governor  and  Heutenant 
general  of  New  France.  Miscalculating  the  rela- 
tive forces  of  the  French  and  Englisli  fleets,  Roque- 
mont went  in  search  of  Kertz,  and  fought  him ;  but, 
his  ships,  being  overladen  and  encumbered,  were  all 
captured. 

The  joy,  which  Roquemont's  messenger  had  ex- 
cited in  Quebec,  was  not  of  long  duration.  It  was 
soon  followed  by  the  melancholy  tidings  of  the  cap- 
ture of  the  vessels,  loaded  with  the  needed  supplies. 
This  misfortune  was  attended  by  another.  The 
crops  failed  throughout  the  country.  The  Indians 
for  a  while  yielded  some  relief,  from  the  produce  of 
their  chase ;  but  this  precarious  aid  did  not,  nor  could 
it,  last  long.  The  colonists  had  still  some  hope 
from  another  quarter.  Father  Nouet,  superior  of 
the  Jesuits,  and  father  Lallemand,  were  gone  to 
solicit  succour  in  France.  They  found,  in  the  gene- 
rosity of  their  friends,  the  means  of  chartering  a  ves- 
sel and  loading  her  with  provisions,  and  took  pas- 
sage in  her  with  father  Alexander  Vieuxpont,  and  a 
lay  brother.  A  storm  cast  her  a  shore  on  the  coast 
of  Acadie.  The  superior  and  lay  brother  were 
drowned.  Father  Vieuxpont  joined  father  Vimont, 
in  the  island  of  Cape  Breton.  Father  Lallemand 
sailed  for  France,  but  experienced  a  second  ship- 
wreck, near  San  Sebastian,  from  which  he  however 
escaped. 

Famine  was  not  the  only  calamity  that  afflicted 


situj 
froi 


"'  :  i 


MB 


1628] 


THE  SVFX'OND 


66 


Canada.  The  Indians  had  ^rown  turbulent  and  in- 
tractable, on  the  approach  ol"  the  English.  The  ill 
will,  which  a  dilTerence  of"  religious  opinions  often 
creates,  was  greatly  excited,  and  the  Huguenots, 
whom  the  de  Caens  had  introduced,  refused  obe- 
dience to  the  constituted  authorities,  (,'hamplain 
had  need  of  all  his  firmness  and  energy  to  suppress 
the  disorder.  In  this  state  of  affairs,  he  thought  the 
best  measure  he  could  adopt  was  to  march  against 
the  Iroquois,  who  of  late  had  given  him  great  cause 
of  complaint,  attack  them  and  seek  subsistence  for 
his  men  in  their  country.  But  he  was  without  am- 
munition, and  could  not  reasonably  expect  any  for 
many  months.  Brule,  his  brother-in-law,  whom  he 
had  sent  to  France,  to  lay  the  distressed  situation  of 
the  colony  before  the  king,  had  sailed  but  a  few 
weeks  before. 

Towards  the  middle  of  July,  he  was  informed  that 
a  number  of  English  vessels  were  behind  Pointe 
Levy.  This  intelligence,  which  at  any  other  time 
would  have  been  very  unpleasant,  received  a  diffe- 
rent character,  from  circumstances.  He  viewed  the 
English  less  as  enemies  than  as  liberators,  who  came 
to  put  an  end  to  the  horrors  of  famine.  A  few  hours 
after,  a  boat,  with  a  white  flag  advanced  and  stopped 
in  the  middle  of  the  port,  as  if  waiting  for  leave  to 
approach.  A  similar  ffag  was  hoisted  in  town,  in 
order  to  intimate  a  wish  that  it  might  come  to  shore. 
An  officer  landed,  and  brought  to  Champlain  a  letter 
from  Louis  and  Thomas  Kertz,  brothers  to  David, 
the  Commodore.  One  of  them  was  destined  to  the 
command  of  Quebec,  the  other  had  that  of  the  fleet, 
which  was  at  Tadoussac.  The  vessel  that  carried 
Brule,  had  fallen  into  their  hands,  and  the  distressed 
situation  of  the  colony  had  become  known  to  them, 
from  the  report  of  some  of  her  sailors,     Champlain 


w^U 


At 

.4 


1- 


'i:f 


5U 


CHAPTER 


[ion 


} 


"'Wl'i 


m 


was  offered  to  dictate  the  terms  of  the  capitulation ; 
the  place  was  yielded. 

On  the  twentieth,  the  English  cast  anchor  before 
it.  They  had  but  three  ships ;  the  largest  was  of 
one  hundred  tons,  and  had  ten  guns ;  the  other  two 
were  of  fifty  tons,  and  had  six  guns  each. 

The  conquest  of  Canada  added  but  little  to  the 
wealth  or  power  of  England.  Quebec,  the  only  part 
of  it,  which  could  be  said  to  be  settled,  was  a  rock 
on  which  one  hundred  individuals  were  starving.  It 
contained  but  a  few  miserable  huts.  All  the  wealth 
of  the  place  consisted  in  a  few  hides,  and  some  pel- 
tries of  inconsiderable  value. 

Thus,  one  hundred  and  twenty  years  after  the 
French  first  visited  the  northern  continent  of  Ame- 
rica, notwithstanding  a  great  waste  of  men  and 
money,  they  were  without  one  foot  of  territory  on  it. 

The  English  colonies,  were  in  a  more  prosperous 
condition.  The  sturJy  pilgrims,  who  had  landed 
but  a  few  years  before,  in  the  north,  had  already 
wrested  from  the  metropolis  the  government  of  their 
colony;  and  spreading  their  population  along  the 
sea  shore,  had  laid  the  foundation  of  the  towns  of 
Plymouth,  Salem  and  Boston. 

The  settlements  in  Virginia  were  extended  to  a 
considerable  distance  along  the  banks  of  James  and 
York  rivers,  to  the  Rapahanoc,  and  even  the  Poto- 
mac. They  had  subdued  the  neighbouring  tribes  of 
Indians,  who  had  attempted  a  general  massacre  of 
the  whites.  They  enjoyed  already,  the  privilege  of 
making  their  own  laws.  Regular  courts  of  justice 
were  established  among  them,  and  they  had  victo- 
riously stood  a  contest,  which  terminated  in  the  dis- 
solution of  the  company,  at  whose  costs  the  country 
had  been  settled ;  too  spirited  to  submit  to  the  arbi- 
trary sway  of  Sir  John  Harvey,  whom  the  king  had 


1630] 


THE  SECOND. 


.5r 


sent  to  govern  them,  they  liad  seized  aikl  iihipped 
him  to  England. 

On  the  thirtieth  of  October,  Charles  the  first 
granted  to  Sir  Robert  Heath,  his  attorney-general, 
all  the  territory  between  the  thirty-first  and  thirty- 
sixth  degrees  of  northern  latitude,  not  yet  cultiva- 
ted or  planted,  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific 
Ocean,  with  the  islands  of  Viaries  and  Bahama. 
This  immense  tract,  including  all  the  country  now 
covered  by  the  states  of  North  and  South  Carolina, 
Georgia,  Tennessee  and  Mississippi,  with  parts  oi' 
that  of  Louisiana,  the  territorv  of  Arkansas,  with  a 
considerable  portion  of  Ncav  Mexico — was  erected 
into  an  English  province,  by  the  name  of  Carolana. 
This  is  the  largest  grant  of  a  king  of  England,  to  an 
individual.  Sir  Robert  does  not  appear  to  have 
made  an  attempt  to  occupy  any  part  of  it.  In  1637, 
he  transferred  his  title  to  Lord  Maltravers,  who  some 
time  after,  on  the  death  of  his  father,  became  Earl 
of  Arundel  and  Surry,  and  Ear!  Marshal  of  England. 
This  nobleman  is  said  to  have  been  at  considerable 
expense  in  an  attempt  to  transplant  a  colony  there, 
but  the  civil  war  which  began  to  rage  soon  after, 
prevented  his  success.  The  pro^  ince  afterwards 
became  the  property  of  Dr.  Coxe  of  New  Jersey, 
whose  right,  as  late  as  the  21st  of  November  1699, 
was  recognised  by  the  attorney-general  of  king 
William,  and  reported  by  the  lords  commissioners  of 
trade  and  plantations  as  a  valid  one.  The  Virginia 
company  loudly  complained  of  the  grant  to  Sir  Ro- 
bert, as  an  encroachment  on  their  charter. 

While  a  new  government  was  thus  sought  to  be 
established  in  the  south,  by  the  king^s  authority,  new 
establishments  were  formed  by  the  northern  com- 
pany, in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  French :  Sir  Fer-  * 
dinando  Gorges  and  John  Mason,  two  members  of 

« 


LOU.  r. 


w 

1 

^ ' '  viii 

•i  ..•;• 

'  ■V'^j 

•  'M 

u 


•  !il 


'  -I 
^1 


%'m 


68 


CHAPTER 


[IG^W 


that  corporation,  built  a  house  at  the  mouth  of  Pis- 
cataqua  river,  and  afterwards  others  erected  cabins 
along  the  coast,  from  Merrimack  eastwardly  to  Sa- 

fadehoc,  for  the  purpose  of  fishing.  In  1631,  Sir 
'erdinando  and  Mason  sent  a  party,  under  one  Wil- 
liams, who  laid  the  foundation  of  the  town  of  Ports- 
mouth, in  the  present  state  of  New  Hampshire. 

By  the  treaty  of  St.  Germain,  which  put  an  end  to 
the  war,  between  France  and  England,  on  the  twenty- 
ninth  of  March  1632,  the  latter  restored  to  the 
former,  Canada  and  Acadie,  without  any  description 
of  limits;  Quebec,  Port  Royal  and  the  island  of 
Cape  Breton  were  so  by  name. 

Robtrtson.'^Charlevoix.f^Mar  shall 


iii 


1632] 


THE  THIRU 


59 


CHAPTER  III. 

Emery  de  Caen. — Maryland. — Acadie. — Commandeur  de 
Razilly. — JS^w   Hampshire. — Maine. — Rhode  Island 
and  Providence  plantations. — Connecticut. — College  of 
Quebec. — Montmagny. — The  Dutchess   of  JiiguilUm. 
Ursuline  JYmis. — Sisters  of  the   Congreeatioji. — Fort 
Richelieu. — Louis  XIV. — Union  of  the  JYeiu  England 
colonies. — Their  treaty  with   Acadie. — U'Aillebout. — 
Offer  of  a  treaty  to  Canada. — Oliver  Cromwell. — Com^ 
missioners  of  Jvcm>  England. — Indians. — Missionaries 
among  them. — Godefroy  and  DreuiUettss  sent  to  Boston. 
De  Lauson.-'— Irruption  of  the  Iroquois. — Swedish  colo- 
ny    abandoned. — V^Argenson. — Bishop  of  Petrea. — 
Vicar  General. — Seminary  of  Montreal' — The  EnS' 
lish  from    Virginia.,  discover  the  Ohio. — Charles  11. 
proclaimed  in   Virginia.— Irruptions   of  the   Iroquois 
near  Quebec. — Epidemic. — Meteors. — D'^Avaugour. — ■ 
Dissentions  among  the  chiefs. — Sale  of  ardent  spirits  to 
the  Indians. — Earthquake. — Vision  of  a  JYitn. — The 
Charter  of  the  Company  ofJVew  France  surrendered. — 
De  Gaudais. — Superior  and  inferior  courts  of  Justice. 
Grant  to  the  Duke  of  York. — The  Dutch  driven  from. 
JYew  Belgica. — JS'ew  York. — Albany. -^JVew  Jersey. — 
Fresh  dissentions  among  the  chiefs. — De  Courcelles. — 
De  Tracy. —  Viceroy  of  JVew  France. — Regiment  of 
Carignan  Salieres. —- JVew   colonists. — Horses,   oxen 
and  sheep  brought  from  France  to  Canada. — Fort  Sorel. 
Fort  St.  Theresa. — Expedition  against  the  Iroquois.-^ 
Another  earthquake. — Carolina. — Charles  II.  of  Spain. 
West  India  Company. — Quebec  erected  into  a  Bishop's 
See. — French  and  EngUsh  Plenipotentiaries  in  Boston. 
Frontenac. — Fort    at    Catarocoui. — Salem. —  Father 
Marq  uette. — Joliet.  —  Lake    Michigan. — Outaganais 


•S'\ 


'Sfr 


1)0 


CHAPTER 


[163i 


i 


river.  — Oui»consing. — Mississippi.  — Illinois.  — Mis- 
souri.— Jjrkansas. — Great  rejoicings  in  Quebec  on  the 
discovery  of  the  Mississippi. 


a 


EMERY  DE  CAEN  was  despatched,  with 
copy  of  the  treaty,  to  Quebec.  His  principal  ob- 
ject ill  bringing  it,  was  the  recovery  ol'  the  property 
lie  had  left  in  Canada,  for  the  restoration  of  which, 
provision  l)ad  been  made  by  an  article  of  the  treaty. 
With  the  view  of  yielding  to  him  some  indemnifica- 
tion for  the  loss  of  his  privilege,  Louis  the  thirteenth 
had  granted  him  the  exclusive  commerce  of  New 
France,  in  furs  and  peltries,  for  one  year. 

Kertz  surrendered  the  country  to  de  Caen. 

Charles  the  first,  on  the  twenty-eighth  of  June, 
granted  to  Cecilius,  Lord  Baltimore,  a  large  tract 
of  country,  between  the  settlements  of  Virginia  and 
the  river  and  bay  of  Delaware.  It  was  called  Mary- 
land, in  honor  of  Henrietta  Maria,  sister  to  Louis  the 
thirteenth  of  France.  Lord  Baltimore,  soon  after 
sent  thither  two  hundred  colonists.  They  were  all 
Roman  catholics,  and  chiefly  from  Ireland. 

The  company  of  New  France  resumed  its  rights 
in  1633,  and  Champlain,  who  on  its  nomination,  had 
been  appointed  governor  of  Canada,  returned  to 
Quebec,  bringing  with  him  a  few  Jesuits. 

Acadie  was  granted  to  the  commander  of  Razilly, 
one  of  the  principal  members  of  the  company.  He 
bound  himself  to  settle  it,  and  began  a  small  estab- 
lishment at  la^  Haive.  A  party  of  his  people,  at- 
tacked a  trading  house  of  the  colony  of  New  England 
on  Penobscot  river.  In  the  following  year,  he  erect- 
ed a  small  military  post  there.  It  was  attacked  by 
an  English  ship  and  barque,  under  Captain  Girling; 
but  it  successfully  defended  itself. 

The    Plymouth    compa^iy,  dividing  its  territory 


1 


Id;i8i 


THE  THIRD 


•1 


among  its  members,  the  land  between  Merrimack 
and  Piscataqua  rivers,  was  granted  to  Mason.  It 
now  constitutes  the  state  of  New  Hampshire.  That  . 
to  the  nortli  east,  as  lar  as  Kennebeck  river,  was  al- 
lotted to  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges,  another  member. 
It  is  now  the  state  of  Maine. 

Roger  Williams,  a  popular  preacher,  and  a  Mrs. 
Hutchinson,  being  banished  from  Massachusetts, 
purchased  each  a  tract  of  land  from  the  Naragan- 
set  Indians,  on  which  they  settled,  with  a  few  of  their 
adherents,  and  laid  the  foundations  of  Providence 
and  Rhode  Island.  Nearly  about  the  same  time. 
Hooker,  a  favourite  minister  in  Boston,  with  leave 
oi  the  government,  led  a  small  colony  farther  souther- 
ly, and  laid  in  the  towns  of  Hartford,  Windsor  and 
Wethersfield,  the  foundation  of  the  present  state  of 
Connecticut. 

In  December  \ij3.%  a  college  was  established  by 
royal  authority  at  Quebec,  and  indtherfiliUmiHgj  yiWi'. 
Champlain  died,  and  was  succeeded  by  the  Cheva- 
lier de  Montmaguy. 

The  piety  of  the  Dutchess  d'Aiguillon  procured 
to  the  colony  two  useful  establishments — that  of  the 
Sisters  of  the  Congregation,  who  came  from  Dieppe 
in  1637;  and  that  of  the  Ursuline  Nuns  from  Tours, 
in  1638,  to  devote  themselves  to  the  relief  of  suffer- 
ing humanity  in  the  hospital,  and  the  education  of 
young  persons  of  their  sex. 

With  the  view  of  checking  the  irruptions  of  the 
Iroquois,  who  greatly  distressed  the  upper  settlers, 
and  came  down  the  river,  that  falls  into  the  St.  Law- 
rence on  its  right  side,  at  a  small  distance  from  the 
town  of  Montreal,  Montmagny  had  a  Ibrt  erected 
on  its  banks ;  it  was  called  Fort  Richelieu,  in  honor 
of  the  Cardinal,  then  prime  minister,  and  afterwards 
communicated  its  name  to  the  stream. 


62 


CHAPTER 


[1640 


Justice  had  hitherto  been  rendered  to  the  colo- 
nists, by  the  governor  and  commandants ;  in  1640, 
provision  was  made  for  its  more  regular  administra- 
tion, by  the  appointment  of  judges  at  Quebec,  Mon- 
treal and  Trois  Rivieres,  and  a  grand  seheschal  of 
New  France.  The  former  had  original,  and  the 
latter  appellate  jurisdiction. 

Louis  the  thirteenth,  on  the  fourteenth  of  May 
1643,  the  forty-second  year  of  his  age,  transmitted 
his  sceptre  to  his  son,  Louis  the  fourteenth. 

The  English  settlements,  near  the  French,  suffer- 
ing as  much  from  the  Indians  as  Canada,  the  colonies 
of  New  Hampshire,  Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island 
and  Connecticut,  sought  protection  in  the  union  of 
their  eff^orts.  They  entered  into  a  league  of  alliance, 
offensive  and  defensive,  and  gave  to  five  commission- 
ers, chosen  by  each  colony,  the  power  of  regulating 
the  affairs  of  the  confSederacy.  Accordingly  the  go- 
v«i»)or«.«f.«Mas«»a«h«setts,  in  behalf  of  the  united 
colonies,  in  the  following  year,  concluded  a  treaty  of 
peace  and  commerce,  with  Monsieur  d'Antouy,  go- 
vernor of  Acadie ;  it  was  laid  before,  and  ratified  by, 
the  commissioners. 

In  1646,  d'Aillebout  succeetled  Montmagny,  in 
the  government  of  New  France. 

The  Indians  continuing  to  distress  the  back  set- 
tlers of  New  England,  the  commissioners  of  the  united 
colonies  sent  a  deputy  to  Quebec ;  who,  in  their  be- 
half, proposed ,  to  d'Aillebout,  that  the  French  and 
New  England  colonies  should  enter  into  a  perpetual 
alliance,  independent  from  any  rupture  between  the 
parent  countries.  D'Aillebout,  approving  the  mea- 
sure, sent  father  Deuilletes,  a  Jesuit,  to  meet  the 
commissioners  in  Boston.  The  envoy,  it  appears, 
was  instructed  not  to  agree  to  any  treaty,  unless  the 
aid  of  New  England  was  afforded  to  New  France, 


''(} 


:f 


1646] 


THE  THIRD 


60 


rauce, 


against   the  Iroquois.     Time  has  destroyed   every 
trace  of  the  final  result  of  this  mission. 

Democracy  now  prevailed  in  England,  over  the 
monarch  and  its  nobles.  The  House  of  Lords  was 
abolished,  and  Charles  the  first  lost  his  head  on  the 
scaffold,  on  the  30th  of  January  1648,  in  the  forty- 
eighth  yc^r  of  his  age.  Olivier  Cromwell,  under  the 
title  of  p^O'jtor,  assumed  the  reins  of  government. 
During  the  struggle,  that  preceded  the  king's  fall, 
the  northern  colonies  spiritedly  adhered  to  the  po- 
pular party ;  Virginia  remained  attached  to  the  royal 
cause,  which  did  not  cease  to  prevail  there,  till  the 
arrival  of  a  fleet,  with  the  protector's  governor. 
Some  resistance  was  even  made  to  his  landing. 

The    commissioners  of   New    England  resumed 
their  negbciations  to  induce  the  governor  of  New 
France,  to  enter  into  an  alliance  with  them.     The 
English  and  French  colonies  were  now  much  dis- 
tressed by  irruptions  of  the  Indians.     The  French 
had  sent  among  the  latter,  a  considerable  number  of 
missionaries,  who  proceeded,  in  their  efforts  to  pro- 
pagate the   gospel^   much  in  the  same   manner  as 
methodists  now  do,  in    new    and   thinly,  inhabited 
countries.     Besides  travelling  missionaries,  who  per- 
« formed  regular  tours  of  duty,  among  the  more  dis- 
tant tribes,  they  had  stationed  ones  in  the  nearer. 
The  stationed  missionary  was  generally  attended  by 
a  lay  brother,  who  instructed  young  Indians  in  their 
Catechism.     The  father    had  often  around   him  a 
number  of  his  countrymen,  who  came  to  sell  goods 
and  collect  peltries.     His  dwelling  was  the  ordinary 
resort  of  the  white  men,  whom  necessity,  cupidity  or 
any  other  cause,  led  into  the  forests.     A  number  of 
Indians  gathered  near  the  mission,  to  minister  to  the 
wants  of  the  holy  man,  and  his  inmates  or  visitors. 
His  functions  gave  him  a  great  ascendency  over  his 


:'? 


.^   • 


■4 


64 


CHAPTER 


{1646 


.'Mi 


4 


flock,  amused  and  increased  by  the  pageantry  of  the 
rites  of  his  religion.  His  authority  often  extended 
aver  the  whole  tribe,  and  he  commanded,  and  direct- 
ed the  use  of  its  forces.  As  he  was  supported  by,  and 
did  support,  the  government  of  the  colony,  he  soon 
became  a  powerful  auxiliary,  in  the  hands  of  ils  mili- 
tary chief.  The  union,  which  existed  among  tho 
travelling  and  stationed  missionaries,  all  appointed 
and  sent  or  stationed,  and  directed  by  their  superior 
in  the  convent  of  Quebec,  had  connected  the  tribes 
who  had  received  a  missionary,  into  a  kind  of  al- 
liance and  confederacy,  the  forces  of  which  govern- 
ment commanded,  and  at  times  exerted  against  the 
more  distant  tribes.  In  return,  it  afforded  the  con- 
federates protection  against  their  enemies.  The 
Iroquois,  Eries  ond  other  nations,  not  in  this  atliance, 
considered  the  members  of  it  as  their  foes,  made 
frequent  irruptions  in  their  viltiages,  and  at  times 
captured  or  killed  the  missionary  and  the  white  men 
around  him.  The  parties,  engaged  in  these  expedi- 
tions, did  not  always  confine  the  violence  they  thus 
exercised  to  Indian  villages;  they  often  attacked 
the  frontier  settlements  of  the  whites,  and  at  times 
approached  their  towns.  These  circumstances  ren- 
dered it  desirable  to  New  France,  to  secure  the  aid 
of  New  England  against  the  Indians.  Accordingly, 
in  June  1651,  d'Aillebout,  calling  to  his  council  the 
head  of  the  clergy  and  some  of  the  most  notable 
planters,  who  recommended  thatGodefroy,  one  of  the 
latter,  and  father  Dreuillettes,  should  proceed  to  Bos- 
ton, and  conclude  the  alliance,  which  the  commis- 
sioners of  the  New  England  colonies  had  proposed. 
Charlevoix  has  preserved  the  resolutions  of  the  no- 
tables, the  letter  they  wrote  to  the  commissioners, 
and  the  passport  or  letter  of  credence,  which  the 
governor  gave  to  the  envoys;  but  be  was  not  able 
to  transmit  us  the  result  of  the  mission. 


IG59] 


THE  THIRD. 


G5 


New  France  received  a  new  governor,  in  the  per- 
son of  Lauson,  in  16.52. 

A  large  party  of  the  Iroquois,  advancing  towards 
Montreal,  Duplessis  Brocard,  who  commanded  there, 
putting  himself  at  the  head  of  the  inhabitants, 
marched  out.  He  lost  his  life  in  an  encounter,  and 
his  followers  were  routed.  This  accident,  although 
it  inspired  the  Iridians  with  much  confidence,  did 
not  embolden  them  to  attack  the  town.  ' 

On  the  failure  of  an  expedition,  which  Cromwell 
had  directed  to  be  prepared  in  Boston,  under  the 
command  of  Sedgwick,  for  the  attack  of  the  Dutch  in 
Nova  Belgica,  this  officer  took  upon  himself  to  dis- 
lodge the  French  from  Acadie. 

The  French  and  English  were  not  the  only  Euro- 
pean nations  annoyed  by  the  Indians.  The  Swedes, 
who,  at  this  time,  had  several  settlements  over  the 
territory,  which  is  now  covered  by  the  states  of  New 
Jersey,  Pennsylvania  and  Delaware,  finding  them- 
selves in  too  small  a  number  to  stand  their  ground 
with  the  natives, abandoned  New  Sweden ;  and  John 
Rising,  their  governor,  in  1655  by  order  of  his  sove- 
reign, transferred  to  Peter  Stuyvesant,  governor  of 
Nova  Belgica,  all  the  rights  of  the  Swedish  crown  in 
this  quarter,  for  the  use  of  the  states-general. 

In  ]  659,  New  France  received  new  civil  and  ec- 
clesiastical chiefs.  The  Viscount  of  Argenson  suc- 
ceeded Lauson,  and  Francis  de  Laval,  Bishop  of 
Petrea,  appointed  by  the  holy  see,  its  apostolic  vicar, 
arrived  with  a  number  of  ecclesiastics.  The  island 
of  Montreal  was  erected  into  a  seignory,  and  the 
priests  of  St.  Sulpice  in  Paris,  were  made  lords  of  it. 
A  seminary  was  established  in  the  city  of  Montreal; 
it  being  the  intention  of  government,  to  substitute 
a  secular  clergy  to  the  Jesuits  and  recollets,  who 
till  now  had  ministered  to  the  spiritual  wants  of  the 

LOU.  I.  9 


"J. 


.  1 


'•  'ifi 


dd 


CHAPTER 


[1659 


I 


colonists.  A  similar  establishment  had  been  begun 
in  Quebec.  Regulations  were  made  for  the  collec- 
tion of  tithes.  Societies  of  religious  ladies  in  France 
sent  some  of  their  members  to  Montreal,  for  the  re- 
lief of  the  sick  and  the  education  of  young  persons 
of  their  sex. 

While  Canada  was  advancing  in  its  internal  im- 
provements, the  Virginians  extended  tlieir  discove- 
ries over  the  mountains.  Daniel  (Joxe,  in  his  de- 
scription of  Carolana,  published  in  1722,  relcUes  that 
Col.  Woods  of  Virginia,  dwelling  near  the  falls  of 
James  river,  about  one  hundred  miles  from  the 
bay  of  Chesapeake,  between  the  years  1654  and 
1664,  discovered  at  diflferent  times,  several  branches 
of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  He  adds,  he  had  in 
his  possession,  the  journal  of  a  Capt.  Needham,  who 
was  employed  by  the  Colonel. 

In  1660,  the  people  of  Virginia,  at  the  death  of 
Mathews,  the  protectors  governor,  called  on  Sir 
William  Berkely,  the  former  governor  under  the 
king,  to  resume  the  reins  of  government,  and  pro- 
claimed Charles  the  second  as  their  legitimate  sove- 
reign, before  they  had  any  intelligence  of  Crom- 
wells'  death.  Charles'  restoration  was  soon  after 
effected  in  England,  and  his  authority  recognised,  in 
all  his  American  colonies. 

This  year  was  a  disastrous  one  in  Canada :  large 
parties  of  the  Iroquois  incessantly  rambled  over  the 
country,  in  every  direction,  killing  or  making  priso- 
ners of  the  whites,  who  strayed  to  any  distance  from 
their  plantations.  The  culture  of  the  earth  was 
much  impeded  by  the  terror  they  inspired.  Even 
in  Qi^ebec,  the  people  were  alarmed.  The  Ursu- 
line  and. hospital  nuns  were  frequently  compelled 
to  seek  shelter  out  of  their  monasteries,  at  night. 
In  the  following  year,  an  epidemic  disease  made  great 


m 


4. 


i662] 


THE  THIRD. 


67 


havock.  It  was  a  kind  of  hooping  cough,  terminat- 
ing in  pleurisy.  Many  of  the  whites,  and  the  domes- 
ticated Indians  fell  victims  to  it.  Its  greatest  rava- 
ges were  among  the  chihJren.  It  was  imagined  to 
be  occasioned  by  enchantment,  and  many  of  the 
facuhy,  did,  or  affected  to,  believe  it.  Others  were 
terrified  into  credulity,  and  the  strangest  reports 
were  circulated  and  credited.  Time  and  the  pro- 
gress of  knowledge  have  dispelled  the  opinion 
(which  at  tliis  period  prevailed  in  Europe,  and  the 
colonists  had  brought  over)  that  at  times,  malignant 
spirits  enabled  some  individuals  to  exercise  super- 
natural powers  over  the  health  and  lives  of  others. 
It  was  said,  a  fiery  crown  had  been  observed  in  the 
air  at  Montreal;  lamentable  cries  heard  at  Trois 
Rivieres,  in  places,  in  which  there  was  not  any  per- 
son ;  that  at  Quebec,  a  canoe  all  in  fire,  had  been 
seen  on  the  river,  with  a  man  armed  cap-a-pie,  sur- 
rounded by  a  circle  of  the  same  element ;  and  in  the 
island  of  Orleans,  a  woman  had  heard  the  cries  of 
her  fruit  in  her  womb.  A  comet  made  its  appear- 
ance ;  a  phenomenon  seldom  looked  upon  as  of  no 
importance,  especially  in  calamitous  times. 

The  alarm  at  last  subsided.  The  parties  of  Iro- 
;J5[Uois,  who  desolated  the  country,  became  less  nu- 
merous and  less  frequent ;  these  Indians  finally  sued 
for  peace.  The  governor  did  not  appear  at  first, 
very  anxious  to  listen  to  their  proposals ;  but  pru- 
dence commanded  the  acceptance  of  them. 

The  Baron  d'Avaugour  relieved  the  Viscount 
d'Argenson,  in  1662. 

Serious  discontents  now  arose  between  the  civil 
and  ecclesiastical  chiefs.  Much  distress  resulted 
from  the  inobservance  of  the  regulations,  made  to 
prevent  the  sale  of  spirituous  liquors  to  the  Indians. 
A  woman,  who  was  found  guilty  of  a  breach  of  them. 


■I 


iM,< 


r  m^l 


:w 


'1      " 


Gb 


CHAPTER 


fl66? 


was  sent  to  prison,  and  at  the  solicitation  of  her 
friends,  the  superior  of  the  Jesuits  waited  on  the 
Baron,  to  solicit  her  release.  He  received  the  holy 
man  with  rudeness ;  observing  that,  since  the  sale 
of  spirituous  liquors  to  the  Indians  was  no  offence  in 
this  woman,  it  should  not,  for  the  future,  be  one  in 
any  body.  Obstinacy  induced  him  afterwards  to 
regulate  his  conduct,  according  to  this  rash  declara- 
tion; the  shopkeepers  (thinking  themselves  safe) 
suflered  cupidity  to  direct  theirs,  and  the  regu- 
lations were  entirely  disregarded.  The  clerg} 
exerted  all  their  influence  to  suppress  the  growing 
evil,  and  withheld  absolution  from  those,  who  re- 
fused to  promise  obedience  to  the  regulations.  The 
Bishop  resorted  to  the  use  of  the  censures  of  the 
church  against  the  obstinate;  this  created  much  ill 
will  against  him  and  his  clergy,  and  he  crossed  the 
sea,  to  solicit  the  king's  strict  orders,  for  the  sup- 
pression of  this  disorder. 

A  dreadful  earthquake  was  felt  in  Canada,  on  the 
fifth  of  February  1663.  The  first  shock  is  said  by 
Charlevoix,  to  have  lasted  half  an  hour ;  after  the 
first  quarter  of  an  hour,  its  violence  gradually 
abated.  At  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening,  a  like 
shock  was  felt;  some  of  the  iiihabitants  said  they 
had  counted  as  many  as  thirty-two  shocks,  during 
the  night.  In  the  intervals  between  the  shocks,  the 
surface  of  the  ground  undulated  as  the  sea,  and  the 
people  felt,  in  their  houses,  the  sensations  which  are 
experienced  in  a  vessel  at  anchor.  On  the  sixth,  at 
three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  another  most  violent 
shock  was  felt.  It  is  related  that  at  Tadoussac, 
there  was  a  rain  of  ashes  for  six  hours.  During  thig 
strange  commotion  of  nature,  the  bells  of  th( 
churches  were  kept  constantly  ringing,  by  the  mo- 
tion of  the  steeples;  the  houses  were   so   terribly 


iCC'j] 


THE  THIRD 


C!' 


Ug  this 


the 


shaken,  that  the  eaves,  on  each  side,  alternately 
touched  the  ground.  Several  mountains  altered  their 
positions;  others  were  precipitated  into  the  river, 
and  lakes  were  afterwards  found,  in  the  places  on 
which  they  stood  before.  The  commotion  was  ieh 
for  nine  hundred  miles  from  east  to  west,  and  five 
hundred  from  north  to  south. 

This  extraordinary  phoenomenon  was  considered 
as  the  ctlect  of  the  vengeance  of  God,  irritated  at 
the  obstinacy  of  those,  who,  neglecting  the  admo- 
nitions of  his  ministers,  and  contemning  the  censures 
of  his  church,  continued  to  sell  brandy  to  the  In- 
dians.    The  reverend  writer,  who  has  been  cited, 
relates  it  was  said,  ignited  appearances  had  been 
observed  in  the  air,  for  several  days  before:  globes 
of  fire  being  seen  over  the  cities  of  Quebec  and 
Montreal,   attended  with  a  noise  like  that  of  ihe 
siniultaneous  discharge  of  several  pieces  of  heavy 
artillery;  that  the  superior  of  the  nuns,  informed  her 
confessor  some  time  before,  that  being  at  her  devo- 
tions, she  believed    "  she  saw  the  Lord,  irritated 
against    Canada,  and   she   involuntarily  demanded 
justice  liom  him  for  all  the  crimes  committed  in  the 
country ;  praying  the  souls  might  not  perish  with  the 
bodies :  a  moment  after,  she  felt  conscious  the  di- 
vine justice  was  going  to  strike ;  the  contempt  ol 
the  church   exciting  God's   wrath.    She   perceived 
almost  instantaneously  four  devils,  at  the  corners  of 
Quebec,  shaking  the  earth  with  extreme  violence, 
and  a  person  of  majestic  mien  alternately  slackening 
and  drawing  back  a  bridle,  by  which  he  held  them." 
A  female  Indian,  who  had  been  baptised,  was  said 
to  have    received    intelhgence  of  the    impending 
chastisment  of  heaven.     The  reverend  writer  con- 
cludes his  narration,  by  exultingly  observing,  "  none- 
perished,  all  were  converted." 


i1 


■t^- 


'    'il 


m 


n 


i 


CHAPTER 


i;iGti4 


The  bishop  was  favourably  heard  at  court,  and 
returned  with  de  Mesy,  who  at  his  recommendation, 
was  sent  to  reheve  the  Baron  d'Av.iugour, 

The  company  of  New  France,  drawing  but  httle 
advantage  from  its  charter,  had  surrendered  it;  and 
Gaudais,  the  king's  commissioner  to  take  possession 
of  the  country,  arrived  with  the  governor  and  bishop. 
One  hundred  famiHes  came  over  with  him.  A  num- 
ber of  civil  and  mihtary  oiiicers,  and  some  troops 
were  also  sent. 

After  having  executed  the  object  of  his  mission, 
received  the  oaths  of  fidelity  of  the  former  and  new 
colonists,  and  made  several  ordinances  for  the  re- 
gulation of  the  police  and  administration  of  justice, 
the  commissioner  returned  to  France. 

The  governors  had  hitherto  claimed  cognizance 
©f  all  suits,  which  the  plaintiff  brought  before  them, 
and  disposed  of  them,  in  a  summary  way,  and  with- 
out appeal.  They,  however,  seldom  proceeded  to 
judgment,  without  having  previously  tried  in  vain  to 
induce  the  parties  to  submit  their  differences  to  the 
arbitration  of  their  friends ;  and  the  final  decisions 
of  the  governors,  when  the  attempt  failed,  had  gene- 
rally given  satisfaction.  We  have  seen,  however, 
that  in  1640,  a  grand  seneschal  of  New  France  and 
inferior  judges  at  Quebec,  Montreal  and  Trois 
Rivieres,  had  been  appointed.  By  an  edict  of  the 
king,  of  the  month  of  March  1664,  a  sovereign  coun- 
cil was  created  in  New  France.  It  was  composed 
of  the  governor,  the  apostolic  vicar,  the  intendant, 
and  four  counsellors,  (chosen  amoiig  the  most  notable 
inhabitants,  by,  and  removeablo  at  the  pleasure  of, 
these  three  officers)  an  attorney  general  and  a  clerk. 
This  tribunal  was  directed  to  take  the  ordinances 
of  the  king,  and  the  custom  of  Paris,  as  the  rules  of 
its  decisions.     The  military  and  ecclesiastical  chief* 


It* 


I  !,' 


1C661 


THE  THIRD. 


71 


.' ^l^ 


rois 
the 


had  precedence  over  the  intend  ant  in  council,  though 
the  latter  exorcised  the  functions  of  president.  A 
majority  of  the  judges  was  a  quorum  in  civil,  but  the 
presence  of  five  of  them,  was  required  in  criminal, 
cases. 

Inferior  tribunals  were  established  at  Quebec, 
Montreal  and  Trois  Rivieres. 

The  occupation,  by  the  Dutch  and  Swedes,  of  the 
territory  between  New  England  and  Mai  viand,  had 
never  been  viewed  in  England,  as  the  exercise  of  a 
legitimate  right,  but  rather  as  an  encroachment  on 
that  of  the  crown,  the  country  having  been  disco- 
vered by  one  of  its  subjects,  Henry  Hudson.  The 
circumstance  of  his  being,  at  the  time,  in  the  service 
of  the  states  general,  was  not  deemed  to  affect  the 
claim  of  his  natural  sovereign.  Charles  the  second, 
accordingly  made  a  grant  to  his  brother  the  Duke 
of  York,  and  Lord  Berkeley,  of  all  the  territory 
between  New  England  and  the  river  Delaware,  and 
a  force  was  sent  to  take  possession  of  it  in  1664. 

Governor  Stuyvesant,  who  commanded  at  New 
Amsterdam,  would  have  resisted  the  English  forces ; 
but  the  inhabitants  were  unwilling  to  support  him. 
He  was  therefore,  compelled  to  yield.  The  town  of 
New  Amsterdam  received  the  name  of  New  York, 
which  was  also  given  to  the  province, and  fort  Orange 
that  of  iVlbany. 

The  territory  between  the  Hudson  and  the  Dela- 
ware, the  North  and  South  river,  was  erected  into  a 
distinct  province,  and  called  New  Jersey. 

In  New  France,  de  Mesy  did  not  live  on  better 
terms  with  the  bishop  and  clergy,  than  his  prede- 
cessor. Great  discontents  prevailed  also,  between 
him  and  the  members  of  the  council.  They  rose  to 
such  an  height,  that  he  ordered  Villere,  a  notable  in- 
Habitant,  who  had  been  called  to  a  seat  in  the  coun- 


ii 


ri< 


•* 


1       !.   V 


,  j.l.T 


72 


CIIAPTKU 


ricGs 


cil,  ami  Bourdon,  thn  attorney  general,  to  bo  arrested, 
and,  after  a  detention  of'a  tew  days,  he  shipped  them 
to  France.  The  stern  wisdom  and  unshaken  in- 
tegrity of*  the  prisoners,  were  universally  acknowl- 
edged.  Their  complaints  were  tavourahly  heard 
at  court.  The  answer  of  the  governor  to  the  charges, 
exhibited  against  him,  appeared  unsatisfactory,  and 
de  Courcelles  was  sent  to  relieve  him. 

Louis  the  fourteenth  had,  in  the  preceding  year, 
appointed  the  Marquis  de  Tracy,  his  viceroy  and 
lieutenant  general  in  America.  This  ollicer  was 
directed  to  visit  the  French  islands  in  the  West 
Indies,  to  proceed  to  Quebec  and  stay  as  long  as 
might  be  necessary,  to  settle  the  disturbed  govern- 
ment of  the  colony,  and  provide  for  its  protection 
against  the  irruptions  of  the  Iroquois. 

In  June  1665,  the  viceroy  landed  at  Quebec,  with 
four  companies  of  the  regiment  of  Carignan  Saheres. 
He  dispatched  a  part  of  this  small  force,  with  some 
militia,  under  the  orders  of  captain  de  Repentigny, 
who  met  several  parties  of  the  Iroquois,  whom  he 
reduced  to  order.  The  rest  of  the  regiment  arrived 
soon  after,  with  de  Salieres  its  colonel,  and  a  consi- 
derable number  of  new  settlers  and  tradesmen,  and 
a  stock  of  horses,  oxen  and  sheep.  The  horses  were 
the  first  seen  in  Canada.  The  addition  to  the  pop- 
ulation of  the  colony,  which  then  arrived,  much 
exceeded  its  former  numbers. 

The  viceroy  proceeded  with  a  part  of  the  troops 
to  the  river  Richelieu,  where  he  employed  them  in 
erecting  three  forts.  The  first,  was  on  the  spot  on 
which  had  stood  fort  Richelieu,  built  by  Montmagny 
in  1638,  and  which  was  gone  to  ruins.  The  new 
one  was  built  by  an  officer  of  the  name  of  Sorel, 
who  was  afterwards  left  in  command  there.  It  re- 
ceived his  name,  and  communicated  it  to  the  riv^r 


I-OlfJ 


1665] 


IIIE  THIRD. 


73 


The  second  fort,  was  erected  at  the  falls.  It  was 
at  first  called  Fort  Louis ;  but  Chainbly,  the  officer, 
who  built  and  commanded  it,  having  acquired  the 
land  around,  it  took  his  name.  The  third  was 
nine  miles  higher  up,  and  was  called  St.  Theresa, 
from  the  circumstance  of  its  having  been  completed 
on  the  day,  on  wliich  tlie  catholics  worship  that  saint. 
These  fortifications  were  intended  as  a  protection 
against  the  Iroquois,  who  generally  came  down  that 
river  to  invade  the  colony.  They  were  greatly  em- 
boldened by  the  expectation  of  aid,  from  the  English 
at  Albany.  The  new  forts  effectually  guarded 
against  their  approach  by  the  stream;  but  the 
Indians  soon  found  other  parts  of  the  country  afford- 
ing them  as  easy  a  passage.  They  became  so 
troublesome,  that  the  viceroy  and  governor  were, 
for  a  considerable  time,  compelled  to  keep  the  field 
with  the  regular  forces,  and  as  many  of  the  inhabi- 
tants as  could  be  spared  from  the  labours  of  agricul- 
ture. They  had  several  encounters  with  large 
parties  of  Indians,  whom  they  defeated.  The  latter 
found  it  of  no  avail,  to  continue  their  irruptions,  while 
the  colony  was  thus  on  its  guard. 

The  tranquility,  which  the  retreat  of  the  foe,  and 
the  vigilance  of  the  chiefs  gave  to  the  colony,  was 
however,  soon  disturbed,  by  events  over  which  human 
foresight  can  have  no  control.  Several  shocks  oi  an 
earthquake,  attended  with  the  appearance  of  the 
meteors  that  had  accompanied  that  of  1663,  now 
excited  great  alarm.  A  deadly  epidemic  disease, 
added  its  horrors  to  those  which  the  commotions  of 
nature  had  produced. 

Charles  the  second,  unmindful  of  his  father's  char- 
ter to  Sir  Robert  Heath,  about  a  third  of  a  century 
before,  had  in  1663  granted  to  Lord  Clarendon  aud 


■    I-, 


I-OU.  h 


10 


M 


tJHAFTLK 


[ItJiU. 


1^ 


W' 


others,  the  territory  i'rom  the  river  Sun  Matheo  or 
St.  John,  in  Florida,  to  the  thirty-sixth  degree  of 
northern  latitude.  There  was  as  yet  but  an  insig- 
nificant settlement,  in  this  vast  extent  of  country. 
It  was  on  the  north  side  of  Albemarle  Sound,  and  had 
been  formed  by  stragglers  from  the  colony  pt"  Vir- 
ginia, who,  travelling  southerly,  had  stopped  at  a 
small  distance  beyond  its  southern  limit,  and  had 
been  joined  by  emigrants,  chiefly  of  the  Quaker  pro- 
fession, driven  by  the  intolerant  spirit  of  the  people 
of  New  England.  The  new  proprietors,  having  dis- 
covered valuable  tracts  of  land  not  included  in  their 
charter,  obtained  in  June  1665,  a  second  and  more 
extensive  one.  It  covers  all  the  territory  from  the 
twenty-ninth  degree  to  Wynock,  in  36  degrees  30 
minutes  of  northern  latitude.  They  effected  shortly 
after,  a  small  settlement  on  Cape  Fear  river,  whicli 
was  afterwards  removed  farther  south,  and  became 
the  nucleus  of  the  state  of  South  Carolina,  as  thai 
on  Albemarle  Sound,  extending  southerly  and  wes- 
terly, became  that  of  North  Carolina. 

On  the  seventeenth  of  September  1665,  Philip  the 
fourth  of  Spain  died  in  his  sixtieth  year,  and  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  Charles  the  second. 

The  French  king,  had  in  1662,  transferred  to  the 
West  India  Company,  all  the  privileges  which  that 
of  New  France  had  enjoyed ;  the  former,  not  being 
in  a  situation  to  avail  itself  immediately  of  the  royal 
favour,  requested  that  the  colonial  government 
might  for  a  while  be  administered  by  the  king's  of- 
ficer. In  the  spring  of  1 667,  the  Marquis  de  Tracy, 
according  to  the  king's  order,  put  the  company  in 
formal  possession  of  the  country,  and  soon  after  sail- 
ed for  France.  Neither  the  colony,  nor  the  com- 
pany appear  to  have  derived  any  great  advantage 


the 
yea 
oft 
shoi 
Ten 


11570) 


THE  THIRD. 


7t. 


(1600 

eo  or 
ce  ot 
iiisig- 
untry. 
1(1  liad 
.f  Vir- 

I  at  a 
d  had 
sr  pro- 
people 
ug  dis- 

II  their 
I  more 
)m  the 
ees  30 
shortly 
,  which 
)ecame 
as  thai 
id  wes- 

ilip  the 
r\d  wae^ 

1  to  the 
ch  that 
)t  being 
le  royal 
jniment 
ng's  of- 
Tracy, 
ipany  in 
fter  sail- 
he  corn- 
vantage 


from  this  arrangement ;  and  in  the  following  year, 
the  freedom  of  commerce  in  New  France  was  pro- 
claimed. 

13y  the  treaty  of  Breda  in  16G7,  Acadie  was  res- 
tored to  the  French. 

The  ecclesiastical  government  of  New  France 
had  been  hitherto  conhded  to  an  apostolic  vicar,  a 
bishop  in  partibus  injiddium^  that  of  Pctrea.  The 
pope  now  erected  the  city  of  Quebec,  into  a  bishop's 
see,  and  St.  Vallier  was  appointed  its  first  incum- 
bent. This  gentleman,  however,  did  not  receive  the 
canonical  institution,  till  four  years  after. 

The  lords  of  manors  in  New  France  did  not  enjoy 
any  ecclesiastical  patronage;  and  the  bishop  who, 
receiving  all  the  tithes  collected  in  the  diocess,  was 
burdened  with  the  support  of  the  curates,  had  the 
uncontrolled  appointment  of  them. 

It  does  not  appear,  that  with  the  exception  of  the 
seminary  of  St.  Sulpice,  any  lord  in  New  France, 
ever  claimed  the  administration  of  justice  by  his 
own  judges.  This  corporation  was  in  the  exercise  of 
this  right  as  lords  of  the  island  of  Montreal ;  but  they 
surrendered  it  to  the  king  in  1692. 

The  Chevalier  de  Grandfontaine  and  Sir  John 
Temple,  plenipotentiaries  of  the  French  and  British 
crowns,  signed  in  Boston,  on  the  seventh  of  July 
1670,  a  declaration,  by  which  the  right  of  France  to 
all  the  country  from  the  river  of  Pentagoet,  to  the 
island  of  Cape  Breton  (both  inclusive)  was  recog- 
nised. The  chevalier  was  appointed  governor  of 
Acadie. 

Count  de  Frontenac  succeeded  Courcelles,  in 
the  government  of  New  France,  in  the  following 
year.  He  found  it  desolated  by  repeated  irruptions 
of  the  Iroquois,  who  came  down  along  the  eastern 
shore  of  lake  Ontario,  and  descended  the  St.  Law- 
rence.   With  the  view  of  checking  their  approach 


n 


it- 


7ti 


CHAPTEK 


[U570 


this  way,  he  built  a  fort  at  Catarocoui,  on  the  lake, 
near  the  place  where  its  waters  form  the  river. 

The  western  company,  by  an  edict  of  February 
1670,  had  been  authorised  to  send  to  the  islands, 
small  coins  expressly  struck  for  circulation  there,  to 
the  amount  of  one  nundred  thousand  livres,  (about 
;g20,000)  and  the  edict  especially  provided,  they 
should  not  circulate  elsewhere.  In  November  1672, 
however,  their  circulation  was  authorized  in  the 
king's  dominions  in  North  America,  and  their  value 
was  increased  one  third;  pieces  of  fifteen  sous  being 
raised  to  twenty,  and  others  in  the  same  proportion. 
At  the  same  time,  the  practice,  that  had  prevailed  in 
the  islands  and  in  new  France,  of  substituting  the 
contract  of  exchange  to  that  of  sale  was  forbidden. 
The  king  ordered,  that  in  future,  all  accounts,  notes, 
bills,  purchases  and  payments  should  be  made  in 
money,  and  not  by  exchange  or  computation  of  sugar, 
or  other  produce,  under  pain  of  nullity.  Former  con- 
tracts, notes,  bills,  obligations,  leases,  &c.,  in  which  a 
quantity  of  sugar,  or  other  produce,  was  stipulated  to 
be  delivered,wereresolvedby  the  royal  power,intoob- 
ligations  to  pay  money.  This  interference  in  the  con- 
cerns of  individuals  created  confusion,  and  the  great  de- 
mand it  occasioned  for  coin,  increased  its  value  and 
occasioned  a  consequent  decrease  of  land  and  other 
property,  which  had  a  most  mischievous  eflfect. 

The  Canadians  had  learnt  from  the  Indians,  that 
there  was  a  large  stream  to  the  west,  the  course  of 
which  was  unknown ;  but  they  had  ascertained  it 
did  not  flow  northerly  nor  easterly ;  and  great  hopes 
were  entertained  that  it  might  afford  a  passage  to 
China,  or  at  least  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  Talon,  the 
first  intendant  of  New  France,  was  about  returning 
home,  and  determined  on  discovering,  before  he 
sailed,  the  course  of  this  great  river. 

He  engaged,  for  this  purpose,  father  Marquette,  a 


1673-] 


THE  THIRD 


77 


jtte.  a 


recoUet  monk,  who  had  been  for  a  long  time  em- 
ployed in  distant  missions,  and  Joliet,  a  trader  of 
Quebec,  and  a  man  of  considerable  information  and 
experience  in  Indian  affairs.  The  two  adventurers 
proceeded  to  the  bay  of  lake  Michigan,  and  en- 
tered a  river,  called  by  the  Indians  Outagamis,  and 
by  the  French,  des  renards.  Ascending  almost  to  its 
source,  notwithstanding  its  falls,  they  made  a  small 
portage  to  that  of  Ouisconsing.  Descending  this 
stream,  which  flows  westerly,  they  got  into  that 
they  were  in  quest  of,  on  the  seventh  of  July  1673. 
History  has  not  recorded  any  account  of  its  having 
been  floated  on  by  any  white  man,  since  Muscoso, 
with  the  remainder  of  his  army,  descended  it  from 
Red  River  to  its  mouth,  about  one  hundred  and 
thirty  years  before. 

Committing  themselves  to  the  current,  the  holy 
man  and  his  companion  soon  reached  a  village  of  the 
Illinois,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Missouri.  These  In- 
dians gladly  received  their  visitors.  Their  nation 
was  in  alliance  with  the  French,  and  traders  from 
Canada  came  frequently  among  them;  a  circum- 
stance which  had  rendered  them  obnoxious  to  the 
Iroquois,  whom  they  found  too  numerous  to  be  suc- 
cessfully resisted,  without  the  aid  of  their  white 
friends.  The  guests  were  hospitably  entertained, 
and  their  influence,  with  the  governor  and  ecclesias- 
tical superior,  was  solicited,  that  some  aid  might  be 
afforded  them,  and  that  a  missionary  might  come 
and  reside  among  them. 

After  a  short  stay,  the  current,  which  now  began 
to  be  strong,  brought  the  travellers  in  a  few  days  to 
a  village  of  the  Arkansas.  Believing  now  they  had 
fully  ascertained  that  the  course  of  the  river  was 
towards  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  their  stock  of  provisions 
being  nearly  exhausted,  they  deemed  it  useless  and 


1 '  V'.i(l  „. 

,  •#-■, 

(,•'■'. i'i. 
•'.vil 


Bh 


;'  f 


t'*' 


i  y^ 


j;i 


78 


CHAPTER 


[1U7.S 


unsafe  to  proceed  farther,  among  unknown  tribes,  on 
whose  disposition  prudence  forbade  to  rely.  They 
therefore  hastened  back  to  the  river  of  the  Illinois, 
ascended  it  and  proceeded  to  Chicagou,  on  lake  Mi- 
chigan. Here  they  parted :  the  father  returning  to 
his  mission,  among  the  Indians  on  the  northern  shore 
of^  the  lake,  and  the  trader  going  down  to  Quebec, 
to  impart  to  their  employer  the  success  of  their  la- 
bours. Count  de  Frontenac  gave  to  the  river  they 
had  explored  the  name  of  Colbert,  in  compliment  to 
the  then  minister  of  the  marine. 

Joliet's  services  in  this  circumstance,  were  remu- 
nerated by  a  grant  of  the  large  island  of  Anticosti, 
near  the  mouth  of  the  river  St.  Lawrence. 

This  important  discovery  filled  all  Canada  with 
joy,  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  capital  followed  the 
constituted  authorities  of  the  colony  to  the  cathedral 
church,  where  the  bishop,  surrounded  by  his  clergy, 
sung  a  solemn  Te  Deum.  Little  did  they  suspect 
that  the  event,  for  which  they  ^ere  rendering  thanks 
to  heaven,  was  marked,  in  the  book  of  fate,  as  a  prin- 
cipal one  among  those,  which  were  to  lead  to  the 
expulsion  of  the  French  nation  from  North  America, 
that  Providence  had  not  destined  the  shores  of  the 
mighty  stream  for  the  abode  of  the  vassals  of  any 
European  prince;  but  had  decreed  that  it  should 
be  for  a  while  the  boundary,  and  for  ever  after  roll 
its  waves  in  the  midst  of  those  free  and  prosperous 
communities,  that  now  form  the  confederacy  of  the 
United  States. 

Robertson. — Charlevoix. — Marshall. 


1873) 


THE  FOURTH, 


79 


in 
Hi 


M 

■ ,  .■4 


CHAPTER  IV.       ^ 

Tfie  French  are  driven  from  Jicadie. — Complaints  of  the 
Canadians  against  their  Governor. — The  j96bS  ae  Fe- 
nelon.—Sale  of  spirituous  liquors  to  the  Indians. — Re- 
presentatipns  of  the  Clergy. — The  Archhishop  of  Paris 
and  Father  ae  la  Chaise. — LasaUe  proposes  to  ex- 
plore the  course  of  the  Mississippi. — He  goes  to  France. 
The  Prince  of  Conti. — The  Chevalier  de  Tonti. — La- 
salle  returns. — Fort  Front  enac. — Adventurers  from  JVew- 
England  cross  the  Mississippi  and  visit  JVetv-Mexico. 
Lakes  Ontario,  Erie,  Huron  and  Michigan. — Little 
Miami  River. — Illinois, — Lasalle^s  men  endeavour  to 
indispose  the  Illinois  against  him. — He  defeats  their 
plan.-'-'The  intrigue  of  a  Mascoutan  Indian. — Attempt 
to  poison  LasaUe. — Arkansas. — Dacan. — Hennepin. — 
Mississippi. — Falls  of  St.  Anthony. — Sioux. — Pennsyl- 
vania.— -Miamis. — Outagamis. — Ainous. — Mascou- 
tans.' — Fort  Crevecaur. — Irruptions  of  the  Iroquois 
into  the  country  of  the  Illinois. — Acadie  restored  to  the 
French. — Fort  Penkuit. — Chicagou. — Illinois. — Mis- 
sissippi River. — 7%e  Miami. — Chickasaws. — Fort 
Prudhome. — Cappas. — Arkansas. — Alligators. — Tarn- 
sas. — Red  River  — Quinipissas. — Tangipaos. — Gidfcf 
Mexico. — LasaUe  takes  possession  of  the  country,  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Mississippi. — He  calls  the  river,  St.  Louis, 
and  the  country  Louisiana. — He  is  visited  by  Indians 
from  several  tribes. — He  returns. — His  party  is  attacked 
by  the  Quinipissas,  who  are  routed. — The  JSatchez. — 
Taensas. — Arkansas. — Chickasaw  Bhifjfs. — LasaUe  is 
detained  there  by  sickness. — The  Chevalier  de  Tonti 
proceeds  with  part  of  the  men. — They  meet  at  Michilli- 
mackinac. — The  Chevalier  goes  to  Fort  St.  Louis,  and 
LasaUe  to  Quebec. — Count  de  Fronlenac. — LasaUe  sails 
for  France.. 


1.    ■ '. 


*■'' 


I' 


80 


CHAPTER 


[1U74 


THE  people  of  New  England  saw  with  a  jealous 
eye,  the  French  in  possession  of  Acadie.  On  the 
tenth  of  August  1674,  Chambly,  who  commanded 
there,  was  surprised  in  the  fort  of  Pentagoet,  by  an 
English  adventurer,  who  had  lurked  in  his  garrison 
for  several  days.  This  man  had  procured  the  aid 
of  the  crew  of  a  Flemish  privateer,  about  one  hun- 
dred in  number.  The  French,  being  but  thirty  in 
the  fort,  were  soon  subdued.  The  victor  marched 
afterwards  with  a  part  of  his  force,  to  the  fort  on  the 
river  St.  John.  Manson,  who  commanded  there,  was 
found  still  less  prepared  for  defence,  than  his  chief. 
By  the  capture  of  these  two  forts,  the  only  ones  which 
the  French  had  in  Acadie,  the  whole  country  fell 
into  the  power  of  the  invaders.  Charles  the  second, 
disavowed  this  act  of  hostility,  committed  in  a  period 
of  profound  peace.  It  had  been  planned,  and  the 
means  of  its  execution  had  been  procured,  in  Boston. 

The  absence  of  causes  of  external  disturbance, 
gave  rise  to  internal,  in  Canada.  The  colonists  com- 
plained that,  through  the  ill-timed  exertion  of  the 
influence  of  Count  de  Frontenac,  the  seats  in  the 
superior  council,  which  were  destined  for  notable 
inhabitants,  were  exclusively  filled  by  men  entirely 
devoted  to  him — that  more  suits  had  been  commen- 
ced in  the  last  six  months,  than  during  the  six  pre- 
ceding years.  An  act  of  arbitrary  power  had  greatly 
excited  the  clergy  against  him.  He  had  imprisoned 
the  abbe  de  Fenelon,  then  a  priest  of  the  seminary 
of  St.  Sulpice  at  Montreal,  who  afterwards  became 
Archbishop  of  Camb,^ay,  and  acquired  great  reputa- 
tion, in  the  literary  world,  as  the  author  of  Telema- 
chus,  on  the  alleged  charge  of  having  preached 
against  him,  and  of  having  been  officiously  indus- 
trious in  procuring  attestations  from  the  inhabitants, 
in  favour  of  Perrot,  whom  the  count  had  put  under 


furs 
two 


.1' 


.:  I 


1675] 


THE  FOURTH. 


9] 


arrest.  They  also  complained,  that  he  had,  of  his 
own  authority,  exiled  two  members  of  the  council, 
and  openly  quarelled  with  the  intendant. 

Much  ill  will  was  created,  between  him  and  the 
bishop,  clergy  and  missionaries,  by  the  sale  of  spirit 
tuous  liquors  to  the  Indians,  which  they  had  hitherto 
successfully  opposed,  and  the  count  now  counte- 
nanced.  The  priests  complained  it  destroyed  the 
whole  fruits  of  their  labour  among  the  converted 
Indians,  and  the  bishop  had  declared  the  breac-i  of 
the  law,  in  this  respect,  a  sin,  the  absolution  of  which 
was  reserved  to  him  alone,  in  his  diocess. 

These  dissentions  were  made  known  to  the  king, 
who,  with  the  view  of  putting  a  stop  to  them,  direct- 
ed that  an  assembly  of  the  most  notable  inhabitants 
of  the  colony,  should  be  convened  and  express  its 
opinion  on  the  propriety  of  disallowing  the  traffic, 
and  that  their  determination  should  be  laid  before 
the  archbishop  of  Paris  and  father  de  la  Chaise,  an 
eminent  Jesuit,  confessor  of  the  king.  It  was  urged 
in  France,  that  a  discontinuance  of.  the  sale  would 
deprive  the  colonial  government  of  the  attachment 
of  the  natives,  who  would  be  induced  to  carry  their 
furs  and  peltries  to  Albany  and  New  York.  The 
two  high  dignitaries  of  the  church,  to  whom  the 
sovereign  had  committed  the  examination  of  this 
question,  having  conferred  with  St.  Vallier,  the  Bish- 
op of  Quebec,  (who  had  been  induced  by  his  zeal  in 
the  cause  of  humanity,  to  go  over  and  solicit  the 
King's  interference)  decided,  that  the  sale  should  not 
be  allowed.  This  report  became  the  basis  of  an  or- 
dinance, the  strictest  observance  of  which  was  en- 
joined on  the  count,  and  the  prelate  pledged  him- 
self to  confine  his  interference  to  cases  of  the  most 
flagrant  violation  of  the  ordinance. 

LOU.  I.  11 


■  M 

■     ^0 


;:i 


tk 


CHAPTER 


[1676 


Father  Marquette  had  died  ;  and  the  great  joy, 
•which  the  discovery  of  the  Mississippi  had  excited, 
had  subsided.  Johet  was,  perhaps,  too  much  engaged 
by  his  own  private  concerns  to  prosecute  the  plans 
of  further  discoveries,  and  tlie  utmost  apathy,  on 
this  subject  prevailed  in  the  colonial  government. 
To  the  enterprise  of  a  then  obscure  individual,  France 
owed  her  success  in  colonization  on  the  Mississippi. 

Robert  Cavelier  de  Lasalle,  a  native  of  Rouen^ 
who  had  spent  several  years  in  the  order  of  the  Je- 
Buits,  and  whom  this  circumstance  had  prevented 
from  receiving  any  part  of  the  succession  of  his  pa- 
rents, who  had  ended  their  lives,  while  he  was  thus 
civilly  dead,  came  to  Canada,  in  search  of  some  en- 
terprise that  might  give  him  wealth  or  fame.  Such 
appeared  to  have  been  the  prosecution  of  Marquette 
and  Joliet's  discoveries.  He  did  not  doubt  that  the 
mighty  stream  poured  its  waters  into  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico;  but  he  fostered  the  idea,  that  by  ascending 
it,  a  way  might  be  found  to  some  other  river  running 
w^terly  and  affording  a  passage  to  Japan  and  China. 

He  communicated  his  vijews  to  count  de  Fronte- 
nac,  to  whom  he  suggested  the  propriety  of  enlarging 
the  fort  at  Catarocoui,  increasing  its  force,  and  thus  by 
holding  out  protection,  induce  settlers  to  improve  the 
surrounding  country,  which  would  afford  a  strong 
barrier  to  the  rest  of  the  colony  in  case  the  Iroquois 
renewed  their  irruptions.  He  presented,  as  a  farther 
advantage,  the  facility,  which  this  would  give  for  the 
building  of  barques  for  the  extension  of  trade,  along 
the  shores  of  the  lakes,  and  of  the  limits  of  the  colo- 
nies and  the  dominions  of  the  king  over  distant  tribes 
of  Indians.  The  count  entered  into  Lasalle's  views ; 
but,  as  the  execution  of  the  proposed  plan  required 
considerable  disbursements,  which  he  did  not  choose 
to  order  without  the  minister's  directions,  he  ordered 


1678] 


THE  FOURTH 


8» 


the  projector  to  go  over,  to  present  and  explain  hit 
plans. 

Lasalle,  on  his  arrival,  was  fortunate  enough  to 
procure  an  introduction  to,  and  gain  the  notice  of  the 
Prince  de  Conti,  whose  patronage  secured  him  the 
most  ample  success  at  court.  The  king  granted 
him  letters  of  nobility,  and  an  extensive  territory 
around  the  fort  at  Catarocoui,  now  called  fort  Fron- 
tenac,  on  condition  of  his  rebuilding  it  with  stone, 
and  invested  him  with  ample  power  for  prosecuting 
the  projected  discoveries,  and  carrying  on  trade  with 
the  natives.  The  prince  desired  Lasalle  to  take 
with  him  the  chevaher  de  Tonti,  an  Italian  officer, 
who  had  served  in  Sicily,  where  he  had  lost  a  hand. 
He  had  substituted  to  it,  one  made  of  copper,  of 
which  habit  enabled  him  occasionally  to  make  a 
powerful  use.  He  was  the  son  of  the  projf  *3torof  a 
plan  of  placing  money  at  interest  Tnot  unknown  n6w 
in  the  United  States)  called  a  tontme ;  in  which  the 
principal,  paid  in  by  those  who  die,  is  lost  to  their 
estates,  and  enures  to  the  benefit  of  the  survivors. 

Daniel  Coxe  mentions,  in  his  description  of  the 
English  province  of  Carolana,  that  this  year,  1678,  a 
considerable  number  of  persons  went  from  New 
England,  on  a  journey  of  discovery,  and  proceeded 
as  far  as  New  Mexico,  four  hundred  and  fifty  miles 
beyond  the  Mississippi,  and  on  their  return  rendered 
an  account  of  their  discoveries  to  the  government  of 
Boston,  as  is  attested  among  many  others  by  Colonel 
Dudley,  then  one  of  the  magistrates,  and  allerwardg 
Governor  of  New  England,  and  since  Deputy  Gover- 
nor of  the  Isle  of  Wight,  under  Lord  Cutts. 

Lasalle,  accompanied  by  the  prince's  protegee 
and  thirty  colonists,  among  whom  were  useful  me- 
chanics, landed  at  Quebec  on  the  15th  of  September 
1678rand  proceeded  without  tarrying,to  the  entrance 


.  far. 


''m 


•*• 


.    il. 


1 


1 1;. 


il 


14 


CHAPTER 


[1670 


l!!' 


I 


of  lake  Ontario,  then  called  Frontenac.  He  imme- 
diately employed  his  men,  in  rebuilding  the  fort,  and 
put  a  barque  of  forty  tons  on  the  stocks.  The  expe- 
dition with  which  the  fort  and  vessel  were  completed, 
gave  to  the  colonial  government  a  high  idea  of  his 
activity.  He  was  a  man  of  genius,  enterprise  and 
perserve ranee,  firm  and  undaunted.  Power  ren- 
dered him  harsh,  capricious  and  haughty.  He  w^as 
ambitious  of  fame ;  but  this  did  not  render  him  in- 
attentive to  pecuniary  advantages. 

The  barque  being  launched,  Lasalle  thought  of 
nothing  but  trade  and  discoveries,  and  left  the  fort 
on  the  18th  of  November..  After  a  tedious  and  dan* 
gerpus  passage,  he  reached  a  village  called  Ononta- 
rien,  where  he  purchased  provisions,  and  proceeded 
to  one  of  the  Iroquois,  near  the  falls  of  Niagara.  Ht' 
stayed  but  one  night  there:  next  morning  he  went  nine 
miles  higher  up,  where  selecting  a  convenient  spot, 
he  traced  the  lines  of  a  fort,  and  set  his  men  to.work  : 
but,  observing  this  gave  umbrage  to  the  Indians,  he 
desisted:  to  preserve  however  what  was  already  done, 
he  surrounded  it  with  a  palisade. 

The  season  being  now  far  advanced  and  the  cold 
very  severe,  he  deemed  it  best  to  place  his  men  in 
winter  quarters,  and  sent  a  party  to  reconnoitre  the 
way  to  the  Illinois ;  leaving  the  rest  at  Niagara,  with 
the  Chevalier  de  Tonti,  he  returned  to  fort  Fronte- 
nac.  In  the  spring  he  came  back  with  a  considerable 
stock  of  merchandise,  provisions  and  amunition:  but 
his  vessel  was  wrecked  on  approaching  the  shore ; 
most  of  the  lading  was  however  saved,  and  put  on 
board  of  another  barque,  which  his  men  had  con- 
structed during  the  winter. 

He  now  despatched  the  chevalier  with  a  few  men,  to 
explore  the  shores  and  country  on  the  northeast  side 
oHake  Erie,  then  called  Conti.     The  chevalier,  after 


11179] 


THE  FOURTH. 


86 


performing  this  service,  passed  to  lake  Huron,  and 
landed  on  the  northern  shore.  He  there  heard  of 
the  party  who  had  gone  towards  the  Illinois ;  they 
had  passed  higher  up.  After  viewing  the  country  he 
returned  to  Niagara.  Lasalle  had  sold  all  his  goods, 
and  was  gone  for  a  new  supply ;  on  his  return,  he 
brought  beside?  merchandise,  a  large  stock  of  provi- 
sions and  three  recollet  monks  to  minister  to  the  spi- 
ritual wants  of  his  people.  The  whole  party  now 
crossed  lake  Erie,  without  accident,  but  were 
detained  for  a  long  time,  by  tempestuous  weather 
at  Michillimackinac.  Lasalle  took  a  view  of  the 
isthmus,  traded  with  the  Indians,  and  laid  the 
foundation  of  a  fort.  The  chevalier  proceeded 
northeasterly,  in  search  of  some  men  who  had  de- 
serted, and  to  obtain  a  better  knowledge  of  the  land 
in  those  parts.  He  went  a  shore  near  a  straight 
callej  St.  Mary,  and  following  the  coast,  reached  a 
river  which  runs  from  the  lake,  and  after  a  circuit  of 
two  hundred  miles  falls  into  the  St.  Lawrence.  After 
a  ramble  of  eight  days  he  returned  to  his  boat,  and 
reaching  the  point  of  the  lake,  took  the  southern 
pass,  and  landed  near  a  plantation  of  the  Jesuits, 
where  he  found  the  men  he  was  in  quest  of,  and  pre- 
vailed on  them  to  go  back  to  the  party* 

In  the  meanwhile,  Lasalle  had,  in  the  latter  part  of 
September,  crossed  the  lakes  Huron  and  Michigan, 
then  called  Tracy  and  Orleans,  and  landed  in  the 
bay  of  the  Puants,  on  the  8th  of  October.  From 
thence  he  had  sent  back  the  barque  to  Niagara,  load- 
ed with  furs  and  skins.  Equally  attentive  to  the  im- 
provement of  his  fortune  by  commerce,  and  the  ac- 
quisition of  fame  by  prosecuting  his  discoveries,  he 
proceeded  in  canoes  with  seventeen  men  to  the  little 
Miami,  which  he  reached  on  the  first  of  November.— 
He  there  carried  on  some  trade  witlithe  natives. 


■■J\ 


1  rl 


M 


8C 


CHAPTER 


[1679 


whom  he  induced  to  put  themselves  under  the  protec-, 
tionof  his  sovereign,  and  with  their  consent  took  for- 
mal possession  of  their  country  for  the  crown  of 
Francee — recting  a  fort  near  the  mouth  of  the  stream. 

The  chevalier,  though  impatient  of  joining  his 
leader,  had  been  compelled  by  contrary  weather  and 
want  of  provisions  to  put  ashore.  His  men  were  fa- 
tigued and  refused  to  proceed  till  they  had  taken 
some  rest.  They  gathered  acorns  and  killed  deer. — 
The  chevalier,  taking  the  boat,  committed  himself  to 
the  waves,  promising  shortly  to  return  for  them ;  af- 
ter being  tossed,  during  six  days,  by  a  tempest,  he 
reached  the  fort  Lasalle  was  building  on  the  Little 
Miami. 

In  expressing  his  pleasure  at  the  return  of  the  che- 
valier, the  chief  observed,  it  would  have  been  much 
greater,  if  he  had  seen  also  the  men,  who  were  left 
behind.  This  kind  of  reproof  induced  the  former, 
as  soon  as  he  had  rested  a  while,  to  return  for  these 
men.  He  had  hardly  left  land  when  a  storm  arose 
and  cast  him  ashore ;  dragging  his  boat  along,  he 
reached  the  spot  from  whence  he  had  started.  Calm 
being  restored  on  the  lake,  the  whole  party  re-em- 
barked and  soon  joined  Lasalle,  who  was  much  pleas- 
ed at  this  addition  to  his  force,  viewing  it  as  essential 
to  the  completion  of  his  plan.  Little  did  he  think, 
these  men  would  prove  a  source  of  vexation  and  dis- 
tress, and  a  great  obstruction  to  his  views. 

He  had  been  successful  in  his  trade,  and  the  fort 
he  had  just  completed  enabled  him  to  keep  the  In- 
dians in  awe,  and  command  the  entrance  of  the  lake : 
he  now  determined  on  prosecuting  his  journey  three 
hundred  miles  further  into  the  country  of  the  Illinois 
Leaving  ten  men  in  the  new  fort,  he  proceeded  up  the 
river  with  the  rest,  and  after  a  passage  of  four  days. 


ie79) 


THE  FOURTH, 


VI 


reached  the  stream  that  now  bears  the  name  of  that 
tribe,  and  to  which  he  gave  that  ofSeignelay. 

Lasalle  had  now  forty  men,  besides  the  three  friars 
and  the  chevalier.     Advancing  by  small  journeys, 
and  making  frequent  excursions  to  view  the  country, 
he  came  about  Christmas  to  a  village  of  nearly  five 
hundred  cabins.     It  was  entirely  deserted  :    the  ca- 
bins were  open  and  at  the  mercy  of  the  traveller — 
Kach  was  divided  into  two  apartments  generally,  and  . 
coarsely  built;  the  outside  covered  with  mud  and  the 
inside  with  mats.     Under  each,  was  a  cellar  full  of 
corn;  an  article  which  the  French  greatly  needed, 
and  of  which  they  did  not  neglect  the  opportunity  of 
supplying  themselves.      Pursuing  their  way  ninety 
miles  further,  they  came  to  a  lake  about  twenty  miles 
in  circumference,  in  which  they  found  a  great  deal  of 
fish.    Crossing  it,  they  found  themselves  again  in  the 
current  of  the  river,  and  came  to  two  Indian  camps 
On  perceiving  the  party,  the  natives  sent  their  wo- 
men and  children  into  the  woods,  and  ranged  them- 
selves in  battle  array,  on  each  side  of  the  stream. 
Lasalle  having  put  his  men  in  a  posture  of  defence, 
one  of  the  Indian  chiefs  advanced,  and  asked  who 
they  were  and  what  was  their  object  in  thus  coming 
among  them.     Lasalle  directed  his  interpreter  to  an- 
swer the  party  were  French;  their  object  was  to 
make  the  God  of  heaven  known  to  the  natives,  and 
offer  them  the  protection  of  the  king  of  France,  and 
to  trade  with  them.      The  Illinois  tendered  their 
pipes  to  their  visitors  and  received  them  with  great 
cordiality.    The  French  gave  them  brandy  and  some 
tools  of  husbandry,  in  return  for  the  provisions  taken 
in  their  village.     Pleased  at  this  tok^en  of  good  faith, 
the  Indians  desired  Lasalle  to  tarry,  and  allow  them 
to  entertain  him  and  his  men.    The  women  and  chil- 
dren came  forward,  and  venison  and  dried  buffalo 


i  :?, 


,   f  'J 

■   'i 


,q 


* 


n& 


r 


•• 


CHAPTER 


[KJBO 


meat,  with  roots  and  fruit  were  presented,  and  three 
days  were  spent  in  convivial  mirth. 

With  the  view  of  impressing  his  hosts  with  Jiwe, 
Lasalle  made  his  people  tire  two  volleys  of  musketry. 
The  wonder  excited  by  this  unexpected  tfiunder  had 
the  desired  efTect.  It  was  improved  by  the  erection 
of  a  fort  near  the  river.  Uneasy,  at  his  being  with- 
out intelligence  of  the  barque  lie  had  sent  to  Niagara, 
richly  laden  with  furs  and  peltries,  and  atari  appear- 
ance of  discontent,  which  forebode  mutiny  among  his 
men,  he  gave  the  fort  the  name  of  Crevc  Coeur,  Heart 
Break. 

Till  now  his  journey  had  been  fortuijcite  :  he  had 
carried  his  discoveries  to  the  distance  of  fifteen  hun- 
dred miles.  Forts  had  been  erected  at  reasonable 
distances  to  mark  and  preserve  the  possession  he  had 
taken  of  the  country.  The  Indian  nations  had  all 
willingly  or  otherwise  yielded  to  his  views  :  the  most 
refractory  had  suflfered  him  to  pass.  But  his  men 
appeared  now  tired  down,  from  the  length  of  a  jour- 
ney, the  issue  of  which  appeared  uncertain,  and  dis- 
pleased to  spend  their  time  in  deserts  among  wild 
men ;  always  without  guides,  often  without  food. — 
They  broke  out  in  murmurs  against  the  projector  and 
leader  of  a  fatiguing  and  perilous  ramble.  His  quick 
penetration  did  not  allow  any  thing  to  escape  him. 
He  soon  discovered  their  discontent  and  the  mis- 
chievous designs  of  some  of  them,  and  exerted  himself 
to  avert  the  impending  storm.  Assurance  of  good 
treatment,  the  hope  of  glory,  and  the  successful  ex- 
ample of  the  Spaniards,  were  laid  before  his  men  to 
calm  their  minds.  Some  of  the  discontented,  who  had 
gained  an  ascendency  over  part  of  the  rest,  represen- 
ted to  them  how  idle  it  was  to  continue  the  slaves  of 
the  caprice  and  the  dupes  of  the  visions  and  imagi* 
nary  hopes  of  a  leader,  who  considered  the  distresses 


I 
f 


■■I! 


lOUU} 


THE  FOURTH. 


%9 


men 


they  had  borne,  as  binding  them  to  bear  others. — 
They  asked  wfiether  they  could  expect  any  other  re- 
ward, for  protracted  shivery,  than  misery  and  indi- 
gence, and  what  could  be  expected,  at  the  end  of  a 
journey,  ahnost  to  the  confines  of  the  earth,  and  in- 
accessible seas,  but  the  necessity  of  returning  poorer 
and  more  miserable  than  when  thoy  began  it.  They 
advised,  in  order  to  avert  the  impending  calamity,  to 
return,  while  they  had  sufficient  strength;  to  part  from 
a  man  who  sought  his  own  and  their  ruin;  and  aban- 
don him  to  his  useless  and  painful  discoveries. 
They  adverted  to  the  difficulty  of  a  return,  while 
their  loader  by  his  intelligence  and  his  intrigues,  had 
insured,  at  the  experjse  of  tlieir  labours  and  faligues, 
the  means  of  overtaking  and  punishing  them  as 
tleserters.  They  asked  whither  they  could  go,  with- 
out provisions  or  resources  of  any  kind.  The  idea 
was  suggested  of  cutting  the  tree  by  the  root, 
ending  their  misery  by  the  death  of  the  author  of  it, 
and  thus  availing  thc^mselves  of  the  fruits  of  their 
labours  and  fatigues.  The  individuals,  who  were 
ready  to  give  their  assent  to  this  proposal,  were  not 
in  sufficient  number.  It  was,  however,  determined 
to  endeavour  to  induce  the  Indians  to  rise  against  La- 
salle,  in  the  hope  of  reaping  the  advantage  of  the 
murder,  without  appearing  to  have,  participated  in 
it. 

The  heads  of  the  mutineers  approached  the  na- 
tives, with  apparent  concern  and  confidence,  told 
them,  that,  grateful  for  their  hospitality,  they  were 
alarmed  at  the  danger,  which  threatened  them ;  that 
Lasalle  had  entered  into  strong  engagements  with 
the  Iroquois,  tlieir  greatest  enemies;  that  he  had 
advanced  into  their  country  to  ascertain  their 
strength,  build  a  fort  to  keep  them  in  subjection, 
and  his  meditated  return  to  Fort  Frontenac  had  n^ 

12 


LOW.  I. 


h 


I 


i 


4n 


;:■■■  k 


>  !'-■ 


tr   'i 


do 


CHAPTER 


[1660 


1 
,1 


I 


W^ 


ir- 


other  object,  than  to  convey  to  the  Iroquois  the  in 
formation  he  had  gained,  and  invite  them  to  an  ir 
ruption,  while  his  force  among  the  Illinois  was  ready 
to  co-operate  with  them. 

Too  ready  an  ear  was  given  to  these  allegations ; 
Lasalle  discovered  instantly  a  change  in  the  con- 
duct of  the  Indians,  but  not  at  first  its  cause.  He 
was  successful  in  his  endeavours  to  obtain  a  dis- 
closure of  it.  He  communicated  to  the  Indians,  the 
grounds  he  had  of  suspecting  the  perfidy  of  some 
of  his  men.  He  asked  how  impossible  it  was,  that 
he  could  connect  himself  with  the  Iroquois.  He 
said,  he  considered  that  nation  as  a  perfidious  one, 
and  there  could  be  neither  credit  nor  safety  in  an 
alliance  with  these  savages,  thirsting  for  human 
blood,  without  faith,  law  or  humanity,  and  instiga- 
ted only  by  their  brutality  and  interest.  He  added, 
he  had  declared  himself  the  friend  of  the  Illinois, 
and  opened  his  views  to  them  on  his  arrival  among 
them. 

The  smallness  of  his  force  precluded  the  belief 
of  an  intention  in  him  to  subdue  any  Indian  tribe, 
and  the  ingenuous  calmness  with  which  he  spoke, 
gained  him  credit;  so  that  the  impression,  made  by 
some  of  his  men  on  the  Indians,  appeared  totally 
effaced. 

This  success  was,  however,  of  small  duration. 
An  Indian  of  the  Mascoutan,  (a  neighbouring  tribe) 
called  Mansolia,  an  artful  fellow,  was  engaged  by 
the  Iroquois,  to  induce  the  Illinois  to  cut  ofT  the 
French.  He  loitered  till  night  came  on,  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  camp ;  then  entering  it,  stop- 
ping at  different  fires,  and  having  made  presents  to, 
and  collected  the  head  men,  he  opened  the  subject 
of  his  mission.  He  began,  by  observing  that  the 
common  interest  of  all  the  Indian  tribes,  but  the  par- 


it  .,- 


1680] 


THE  FOURTH. 


91 


ticular  one  of  his  and  the  Illinois,  had  induced  his 
countrymen  to  depute  him  to  the  latter,  to  consult 
on  the  means  of  averting  an  impending  calamity ; 
that  the  French  made  rapid  strides,  in  their  attempt 
to  subjugate  every  nation  from  the  lakes  to  the  sea ; 
employing  not  only  their  own  men,  but  the  Indians 
themselves;  that  their  alliance  with  the  Iroquois 
was  well  known,  and  the  fort,  they  had  erected  among 
the  Illinois,  was  only  a  prelude  to  further  encroach- 
ments, as  soon  as  they  were  joined  by  their  confe- 
derates ;  and  if  they  were  suffered  to  remain  unmo- 
lested, it  would  soon  be  too  late  to  resist,  and  the 
evil  prove  without  a  remedy ;  but  while  they  were 
so  small  in  number  and  that  of  the  Illinois  was  so 
superior,  they  might  be  easily  destroyed,  and  the 
blow  they  meditated  warded  off! 

This  fellow's  suggestions,  deriving  strength  from 
their  coincidence  with  those  of  Lasalle's  men,  had 
the  desired  effect.  The  suspicions,  which  Lasalle's 
address  and  candour  had  allayed,  were  awakened, 
and  the  head  men  spent  the  night  in  deliberation. 

In  the  morning,  all  the  desultory  hopes  he  had 
built  on  the  apparent  return  of  confidence,  vanished 
on  his  noticing  the  cold  reserve  of  some  of  the 
chiefs,  and  the  unconcealed  distrust  and  indignation 
of  others.  He  vainly  sought  to  discover  the  imme- 
diate cause  of  the  change.  He  knew  not  whether 
it  would  not  be  better,  to  entrench  himself  in  the 
fort.  Alarmed  and  surprised,  but  unable  to  remain 
in  suspense,  he  boldly  advanced  into  the  midst  of  the 
Indians,  collected  in  small  groups,  and  speaking  their 
language  sufficiently  to  be  understood,  he  asked, 
whether  he  would  ever  have  to  begin  and  ever  see 
diffidence  and  distrust  on  their  brows.  He  observed, 
he  had  parted  with  them  the  preceding  eve  in  peace 
and  friendship,  and   he  now  found  them  armed  and 


m 


i'i 


;n 


It 


CHAPTER 


fl08O 


some  of  them  ready  to  fall  on  him :  iie  was  naked 
and  unarmed  in  the  midst  of  ihem,  their  ready  and 
willing  victim,  if  he  could  be  convicted  of  any  ma- 
chination against  them. 

Moved  at  his  open  and  undaunted  demeanor,  the 
Indians  pointed  to  the  deputy  of  the  Mascoutans, 
sent  to  apprise  them  of  his  scheme  and  connection 
with  their  enemies.  Rushing  boldly  towards  him, 
Lasalle,  in  an  imperious  tone,  demanded  what  token, 
what  proof  existed  of  this  alleged  connection. 
Mansolia,  thus  pressed,  replied,  that  in  circumstan- 
ces, in  which  the  safety  of  a  nation  was  concerned, 
full  evidence  was  not  always  required  to  convict 
suspicious  characters ;  the  smallest  appearances 
often  sufficed  to  justify  precautions;  and  as  the  ad- 
dress of  the  turbulent  and  seditious  consisted  in  the 
dissimulation  of  their  schemes,  that  of  the  chiefs  ol 
a  nation  did  in  the  prevention  of  their  success ;  in 
the  present  circumstances,  his  past  negociationp 
with  the  Iroquois,  his  intended  return  to  Fort  Fronte 
nac,  and  the  fort  he  had  just  built,  were  sufficient 
presumptions  to  induce  the  Illinois  to  apprehend 
danger,  and  take  the  steps  necessary  to  prevv;nt 
their  fall  into  the  snare  he  seemed  to  prepare. 

Lasalle  replied,  it  behoved  the  Illinois  to  pre- 
pare means  of  defence  ;  but  not  against  the  French, 
who  had  come  among  them  to  protect  and  unite 
(hem  in  an  Jilliance  with  the  other  tribes,  under 
the  patronage  of  the  king  of  France;  that  the  Iro- 
(jiiois  had  already  subjugated  the  Miamis,  Quicha- 
poos  and  tlio  Mascoutanks,  they  now  sought  to  add 
the  Illinois  to  these  nations;  but  they  durst  not 
make  the  attempt  while  they  were  connected  with 
the  French,  and  with  the  view  of  depriving  them  ol 
the  advantage,  they  derived  from  their  union,  they 
hnd  mado  n«ie  of  ;.n  individual  of  a  conquered  tribf 


!'  r?k 


16  80  J 


THE  FOURTH 


9'3 


in 


pre- 

3nch. 

unite 

idcr 

Iro- 

icha- 

add 

nol 

with 

m  ol 

lhe> 

<ribe 


as  an  emissary,  greatly  apprehending  little  credit 
would  be  given  to  one  of  their  own  ;  that  all  the  in- 
tercourse he  had  with  the  Iroquois,  was  the  purchase 
of  a  fiew  skins ;  that  he  had  built  Fori  Frontenac  and 
another  on  the  Miami  to  arrest  their  progress  (a  cir- 
cumstance that  excited  their  jealousy)  and  Fort  Cre- 
vecoiur  was  erected  to  protect  the  Illinois,  and  such 
of  his  men  as  remained  with  them. 

His  uniform  candour,  since  he  came  among  the 
Illinois,  gained  him  credit  with  them;  and  Mansolia 
at  last  confessed  ihe  Iroquois  had  caused  the 
rumour  of  his  connexion  with  them  to  be  spread, 
in  order  to  excite  distrust  against  him  among  the 
Illinois. 

A  good  understanding  being  now  restored.  Lasalle 
finding  himself  on  a  stream  that  led  to  the  Mississip- 
pi, divided  his  men  into  two  parties ;  one  of  which 
was  to  ascend  the  great  river,  reconnoitre  the  country 
near  its  shores,  visit  the  tribes  below,  as  far  as  the 
sea,  and  enter  into  alliances  with  them.  The  other 
party  was  to  remain  in  the  i'ort. 

Some  of  his  men,  seeing  him  making  preparations 
for  his  departure,  and  finding  it  impossible  to  coun- 
teract his  views,  determined  on  destroying  him.  Ac- 
cordingly, on  Christmas  day,  they  threw  poison  into 
the  kettle,  in  which  his  dinner  was  preparing,  ex- 
pecting, that  if  they  could  get  rid  of  him  and  his 
principal  officers,  they  could  obtain  all  the  goods 
and  other  property  in  the  fort.  The  scheme  was 
very  near  being  successful.  A  few  minutes  after  the 
officers  rose  from  table,  they  were  attacked  with 
convulsions  and  cold  sweats.  Suspecting  what  had 
happened,  they  took  theriack  instantly,  and  this 
attention  prevented  the  consequences  of  the  dire 
nttempl      These  wretches,  perceiving  their  conduct 


••'fl'<l 


,       "qn, 


.f;.i 


1('( 


II  . 


ill 


^4 


CHAPTER 


[1680 


could  not  pass  unnoticed,  fled  into  the  woods,  and 
escaped  the  pursuit  of  their  commander. 

Dacan  was  selected  for  the  command  of  the  party, 
which-was  intended  for  the  expedition  to  the  Missis- 
sippi. Father  Louis  Hennepin,  attended  it  as  Chap- 
lain ;  it  left  Fort  Crevecceur  on  the  twenty- eighth  of 
February  1680.  Descending  the  river  of  the  Illi- 
nois to  the  Mississippi,  Dacan  ascended  the  latter 
stream  to  the  forty-sixth  degree  of  northern  latitude, 
where  his  progress  was  stopped  by  a  fall,  to  which 
he  gave  the  name  of  St.  Anthony,  which  it  still  re- 
tains. There  the  party  was  attacked  and  defeated 
by  a  body  of  the  Sioux,  and  led  into  captivity. 
They  did  not  experience  much  ill  treatment,  and 
were  at  last  enabled  to  effect  their  escape,  by  the 
aid  of  some  French  traders  from  Canada.  On  re- 
gaining their  liberty,  they  floated  down  the  river  to 
the  sea,  according  to  some  accounts,  and  according 
to  others  to  the  river  of  the  Arkansas,  and  returned 
to  Fort  Crevecceur. 

The  year  1680,  is  remarkable  for  the  grant  of 
Charles  the  second,  to  William  Penn,  of  the  terri- 
tory that  now  constitutes  the  states  of  Pennsylvania 
and  Delaware.  The  grantee,  who  was  one  of  the 
people  called  Quakers,  imitating  the  example  of 
Gulielm  Usseling  and  Roger  Williams,  disowned  a 
right  to  any  part  of  the  country  included  within  his 
charter,  till  the  natives  voluntarily  yielded  it  on 
receiving  a  fair  consideration.  There  exists  not  any 
other  example  of  so  liberal  a  conduct  towards  the 
Indians  of  North  America,  on  the  erection  of  a  new 
colony.  The  date  of  Penn's  charter  is  the  twen- 
tieth of  February. 

Lasalle  had  remained  in  Fort  Crevecceur,  after 
the  departure  of  his  men  under  Dacan,  until  the  fall. 


m"  ■ 


:':\ 


any 
the 


1(380] 


THE  FOURTH 


Off 


and  having  given  the  command  of  its  small  garrison 
to  the  Chevalier  de  Tonti,  letl  it  for  Fort  Frontenac 
early  in  November.  On  the  third  day  of  his  march, 
he  reached  the  first  village  of  the  Illinois.  Noticing 
a  beautiful  situation,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  seve- 
ral tribes,  the  Mia  mis,  OutagemiR,  the  KickapooSf 
the  Ainous  and  Mascoutangs,  he  determined  on 
building  a  Ibrt  on  an  eniiiiouce,  which  commanded 
the  country,  as  a  moans  of  keeping  the  Indians  in 
awe,  and  a  stopping  place  or  retreat  for  his  country- 
men. While  he  was  there,  two  men  whom  he  had 
sent  in  the  fall  to  Michillimachinac,  in  order  to  pro- 
cure intelligence  of  a  barque,  which  he  had  ordered 
to  be  built  there,  joined  him.  They  reported  that 
they  had  not  been  able  to  obtain  any  information. 
In  fact,  they  had  set  fire  to  her,  after  having  sold  her 
lading  to  the  Iroquois;  a  circumstance  which  Lasalle 
strongly  suspected.  He  sent  them  to  the  Chevalier 
with  a  plan  of  the  intended  fort,  and  directions  to 
come  and  execute  it.  He  now  proceeded  on  his 
way  towards  Fort  Frontenac. 

The  Chevalier  had  hardly  arrived  and  began  the 
fort,  before  the  officer  he  :iad  left  at  the  head  of  the 
garrison  of  FortCrevecoeur,  sent  to  apprise  him,  that 
the  two  men,  lately  come  from  Michillimachinack, 
having  found  associates  among  the  soldiers,  had  pil* 
laged  the  fort,  and  fled  into  the  woods;  leaving  only 
seven  or  eight  men,  who  had  refused  to  join  them. 
This  induced  the  Chevalier  to  return.  He  found 
Fort  Crevecoeur  entirely  destitute,  and  took  mea- 
sures to  conceal  this  misfortune  from  the  Indians,  and 
to  make  it  k,nown  to  Lasalle. 

A  large  party  of  the  Iroquois  iiell  on  the  Illinois ; 
a  circumstance  which  induced  some  of  the  latter,  to 
apprehend  that  there  might  be  some  truth  in  the 
report  of  an  alliance  between  their  enemy  and  the 


l-    '■■'A 

SI 


<*»■ 


ri 


f>b 


CHAPTER 


•iH 

,11  f 


i 

V  ,  ■  ■ 

«.■"■■ 

1 

1 

i|4i 

IS 

ill 

. »  .  ,' 

[lem 


French.  The  Chevalier,  having  no  force  to  assist 
the  Illinois,  successfully  airorded  them  his  good  of- 
fices as  a  mediator,  with  the  aid  of  fathers  (iabriel 
and  Zenobe,  who  had  remained  with  him.  It  was 
believed  in  Canada,  that  the  Iroquois  had  been  ex- 
cited by  the  English  at  Albany  and  the  enemies  of 
Lasalle. 

Charles  the  second  having  disowned  the  invasion 
of  Acadie  in  1674,  and  it  having  been  accordingly 
restored  to  the  French,  with  the  fort  of  Pentagoet, 
and  that  of  the  river  St.  John,  a  small  settlement  had 
been  formed  at  Port  Royal.  The  English  had  built 
a  fort  between  the  rivers  Kennebeck  and  Pentagoet, 
which  they  had  called  Penkuit.  The  Abenaquis 
claimed  the  country  on  which  it  stood,  and  complain- 
ed of  its  erection.  The  English  induced  the  Iro- 
quois to  fall  on  these  Indians,  who  being  unable  at 
once  to  withstand  these  white  and  red  enemies,  re- 
conciled themselves  to  the  former.  The  English, 
being  so  far  successful,  invaded  Acadie  and  took  the 
forts  at  Pentagoet  and  the  river  St.  John.  Valliere, 
who  commanded  at  Port  Royal,  could  not  prevent 
the  inhabitants  from  surrendering  that  place.  Thus 
%vere  the  French  once  more  driven  from  the  country. 

Lasalle  in  the 'meanwhile,  arrived  at  Fort  Creve- 
coeur,  and  placed  a  garrison  of  fifteen  men  there, 
under  a  trusty  officer,  and  proceeded  up  with  work- 
men to  finish  the  other  which  he  called  Fort  St. 
Louis.  Leaving  the  workmen  in  it,  he  hastened  to 
meet  the  Chevalier  at  Michillimachinack,  which  he 
reached  on  the  fifteenth  of  August.  After  having 
refreshed  himself  and  his  men  for  a  few  days,  he  sat 
off  with  the  Chevalier  and  father  Zenobe  for  Fort 
Frontenac.  After  a  day's  sail,  he  reached  a  village 
of  the  Iroquois,  where  he  traded  for  peltries,  and 
leaving  his  two  companions  there,  he  proceeded  t« 


•"11 


108  1] 


THE  FOURTH 


the  fort,  from  whence  he  sent  a  barque  loaded  with 
mercliaiidiso,  provisions  and  ammunition,  and  a  num- 
ber ot  recruits.  The  Chevalier  and  the  father  went 
in  her  to  the  neighbourhood  of  the  falls  of  Niagara, 
where  takinsf  her  lading  over  land  to  lake  Erie,  after 
a  short  navigation,  ihey  landed  on  the  shores  of  the 
Miami.  Here  the  Chevalier  exchanged  some  goods 
for  corn,  and  the  party  increased  their  provision  of 
meat  by  the  cliase ;  and  were  joined  by  a  few  French- 
men, and  a  number  of  Indians  of  the  Abenaquis, 
Loup  and  Quickapoos. 

They  here  tarried  till  the  latter  part  of  November, 
when,  Lasalle  having  joined  them,  they  ascended  the 
river  to  the  mouth  of  the  Chicagou,  and  went  up  to 
a  portage  of  a  mile  that  led  them  to  the  river  of  the 
Illinois.  They  spent  the  night  near  a  large  fire,  the 
cold  being  extremely  intense.  In  the  morning,  the 
water  courses  being  all  frozen,  they  proceeded  to  an 
Indian  village,  in  which  they  staid  for  several  days. 
After  visiting  Fort  St.  Louis  and  Fort  Crevecoeur,  the 
weather  softening,  they  floated  down  the  river  of  the 
Illinois  to  the  Mississippi,  which  they  entered  on  the 
second  of  February. 

The  party  stopped  a  while  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Missouri,  arid  on  the  following  day  reached  a  village 
of  the  Tamoas,  the  inhabitants  of  which  had  left 
their  houses  to  spend  the  winter  in  the  woods.  They 
made  a  short  stay  at  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio,  float- 
ing down  to  the  Chickasaw  bluffs,  one  of  the  par- 
ty, going  into  the  woods,  lost  his  way.  This  obli- 
ged Lasalle  to  stop.  He  visited  the  Indians  in  the 
neighbourhood,  and  built  a  tort,  as  a  resting  place 
for  his  countrymen  '\avigating  the  river.  At  the  so- 
licitation of  the  Chickasaw  chiefs,  he  went  to  their 
principal  village,  attended  by  several  of  his  men. 
They  were  entertained  with  much  cordiality,  and 


>*!«': 


m 


\i^ 


'■  a 


It  > 


LOU.  h 


\:i 


ii 


' 


I 


n 


CHAPTER 


[1681 


the  Indians  approved  of  his  leaving  a  garriso!i  in  the 
fort  he  was  building.  The  Ciiickasaws  were  a  nu- 
merous nation,  able  to  bring  two  thousand  men  into 
the  field.  Presents  were  reciprocally^  made,  and  the 
French  and  Indians  parted  in  great  h'iendship.  La- 
salle,  on  reaching  his  fort,  was  much  gratified  to  find 
the  man,  who  was  missing.  He  left  him  to  finish  the 
fort,  and  to  command  its  small  garrison.  His  name 
was  Prudhomme ;  it  was  given  to  the  fort — and  the 
bluff,  on  which  the  white  banner  was  then  raised,  to 
this  day  is  called  by  the  French  ecor  a  Prudhomc. 
This  is  the  first  act  of  formal  possession,  taken  by  the 
French  nation  of  any  part  of  the  shores  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi. The  spot  was,  however,  included  within 
the  limits  olthe  territory  granted  by  Charles  the  first 
to  Sir  Robert  Heath,  and  by  Charles  the  second  to 
Lord  Clarendon  and  his  associates. 

Lasalle  continued  his  route  in  the  latter  part  ol 
February,  and  did  not  land  during  the  three  first 
days.  On  the  fourth,  he  reached  a  village  of  the 
Cappas.  -As  he  advanced  towards  the  landing,  hr 
heard  the  beating  of  drums.  This  induced  him  to 
seek  the  opposite  shore,  and  to  throw  up  a  small 
work  of  defence ;  soon  after  a  lew  Indians  came 
across ;  Lasalle  sent  one  of  his  men  to  meet  them 
with  a  calumet,  which  was  readily  accepted.  They 
offered  to  conduct  the  party  to  their  village,  promis- 
ing them  safety  and  a  good  supply  of  provisions 
The  invitation  was  accepted,  and  two  Indians  went 
forward  to  announce  the  approach  of  the  French. 
A  number  of  the  chiefs  came  to  the  shore  to  meet 
,lhe  guests,  and  lead  them  to  the  village ;  where  they 
were  lodged  in  a  large  cabin,  and  supplied  with 
bear  skins  to  lie'on.  The  object  of  Lasalle's  expe- 
dition being  inquired  into,  he  told  his  hosts,  he  and 
his  men  wore  subjects  of  the  king  of  France,  who 


i- 


[1681 


jbbl] 


THfc:  FOURTH 


dd 


[1  the 
I  nu- 
1  into 
d  the 
La- 
0  find 
jhthc 
name 
id  the 
ted,  to 
dhome. 
by  the 
;  Mis- 
within 
le  first 
ond  to 

jart  ol 
;e  first 
of  the 
ing,  he 
him  to 
,  small 
5  came 
them 
They 
jromis- 
visions 
IS  went 
^'rench. 
to  meet 
re  they 
)d  with 
s  expe- 
he  and 
ce.  who 


had  sent  ihem  to  reconnoitre  the  country,  and  ortcr 
to  the  Indians  his  friendship,  aUiance  and  protection. 
Corn  and  smouked  bufliilo  meat  were  brought  in, 
and  the  French  made  pr  ents  of  Huitable  goods. 
When  Lasalle  took  leave,  two  young  men  were 
given  him  as  guides  to  the  Arkansas. 

This  tribe  dwelt  about  twenty-five  miles  lower. 
They  had  three  villages;  the  second  was  at  the  dis- 
tance of  twenty-five  miles  from  the  first.  They  gave 
the  French  a  friendly  reception.  In  the  last  village 
many  Indians  being  assembled,  Lasalle  witli  their 
assent  took  possession  of  the  country  for  his  sove- 
reign, fixing  the  arms  of  France  on  a  lofty  tree,  and 
causing  them  to  be  saluted  by  a  discharge  of  mus- 
ketry. The  awe,  which  this  unexpected  explosion 
excited,  increased  the  respect  of  the  natives  for 
their  visitors,  whom  they  earnestly  pressed  to  tarry. 

On  the  day  after  their  departure,  the  French  saw 
for  the  first  time  alligators,  some  of  which  were  of 
an  enormous  size. 

-  The  next  nation  towards  the  sea  was  the  Taensas, 
who  dwelt  at  the  distance  of  about  one  hundred  and 
eighty  miles  from  the  Arkansas.  On  approaching 
their  first  village,  Lasalle  despatched  the  Chevalier 
de  Tonti  towards  it.  It  stood  on  a  lake,  at  some 
distance  from  the  river.  The  chief  received  the 
Chevalier  kindly,  and  came  with  him  to  meet  La- 
salle. The  healths  of  the  king  of  France  and  of  the 
chief  of  the  Taensas  were  drank  in  this  interview, 
under  a  volley  of  musketry.  A  supply  of  provisions 
was  obtained ;  some  presents  were  made  to  the  na- 
tives, and  the  French  departed  and  floated  down 
the  river. 

On  the  second  day,  a  pirogue  approached  from 
the  shore,  apparently  to  reconnoitre  the  party.  The 
Chevalier  was  sent  to  chase  her,  and  as  he  came 


'<v\ 


m,, 


i  t'-j 


s. 


I   l!- 


It 


I'-  i ; 


100  CHAPTER  [1681 

near,  about  one  hundred  Indiana  appeared  on  (he 
shore,  with  bent  bows.  Lasalle,  on  seeing  them.  •'  - 
called  the  Chevalier;  and  the  French  wont  and 
camped  on  the  opposite  shore,  presenting  their  intis- 
kets.  The  Indians  now  laid  their  bows  on  the 
ground,  and  the  Chevalier  went  over  with  a  r  ihiinet. 
Lasalle  seeing  it  accepted,  cnrnc  ovor,  and  ums  led 
by  the  Indians  to  their  village.  The  chirf  expres- 
sed much  joy  at  the  sight  of  the  French,  and  detsiiiied 
them  a  few  days.  At  their  departure,  he  made  his 
people  carry  dried  fruit,  corn  and  venison  to  their 
boats.  Lasalle  gave  him  a  sword,  an  axe.  a  kettle 
and  a  iew  knives.  After  firing  a  salute,  the  French 
proceeded  to  a  village  of  the  Coroas,  twenty-five 
miles  further. 

Qji  the  twenty-seventh  of  March,  they  encamped 
at  the  mouth  of  Red  Kiver. 

Further  down,  they  fell  in  with  a  party  of  the 
Quinipissas  who  were  fishing,  and  who  on  perceiv- 
ing them  went  a  shore,  where  a  drum  was  beaten 
and  a  number  of  men  made  their  appearance 
armed  with  bows.  Lasalle  directed  some  of  his 
men  to  advance,  but  they  were  briskly  repulsed. 
Four  Indians,  whom  he  had  taken  as  guides  at  the 
last  village,  advanced  with  as  little  success,  and  no 
further  attempt  to  land  was  made. 

Two  days  after,  the  French  came  to  a  village  of 
the  Tangipaos.  It  was  entirely  deserted,  and  des- 
poiled of  every  thing.  Several  dead  bodies  lay  in 
heaps.  The  scene  was  too  disgusting  to  lUow  the 
party  to  stop. 

After  descending  the  river  several  days,  Lasalle 
took  notice  that  the  water  of  the  Mississippi  became 
brackish,  and  shortly  after  the  sea  was  discovered. 
This  was  on  the  seventh  of  April. 

Lasalle  ^lailed  along  the  coast  for  a  while,  and 


1681) 


THE  FOURTH 


101 


returning  to  the  mouth  of  the  river,  caused  a  Te 
Dcum  to  be  sun^.  The  houts  were  hauled  aground, 
recaulked,  and  a  few  temporary  huts  erected.  A  cross 
was  placed  on  a  high  tree,  with  the  escutcheon  of 
France,  in  token  of  the  solemn  posseBsiorj  taken  for 
the  king.  Lasallc  called  the  river  St.  Louis  and 
the  country  Louisiana. 

Parties  of  the  Tangipaos  and  Quinipissas  came 
on  the  next  day  to  iiurit  hudaloes,  wliich  were  in 
abundance  in  the  neighbouring  cane  brakes.  The 
Indians  were  successful  in  their  chase,  and  present- 
ed the  Frenc''  with  three  of  these  animals. 

After  resting  a  few  days,  the  parly  sat  off  It  now 
consisted  of  sixty  persons,  white  and  red.  They 
were  soon  tired  of  stemming  the  current,  which  was 
now  very  strong,  and  proceeded  along  the  shore  to 
the  Quinipissas.  As  these  Indians  had  manifested 
no  hospitable  disposition,  Lasalle  deemed  it  pru- 
dent to  take  some  precautions.  Accordingly,  four 
Indians  were  sent  forward ;  they  returned  in  the 
evening  with  as  many  Quinipissa  women,  who  were 
sent  back  in  the  morning  with  presents,  and  desired 
to  inform  their  countrymen,  the  French  requested 
nothing  but  a  supply  of  provisions  and  their  friend- 
ship ;  and  were  willing  liberally  to  pay  for  what  they 
might  obtain.  A  few  hours  after,  four  chiefs  came 
with  provisions,  and  requested  Lasalle  to  slop  with 
his  men  in  their  village.  On  their  arrival  there, 
water  fowls  and  fruit  were  given  them,  and  at  night 
they  encamped  between  the  village  and  the  river. 
In  the  morning,  their  treacherous  hosts  attacked 
them,  but  they  did  not  find  them  asleep.  Lasalle 
had  constantly  a  sentry,  and  warmly  repelled  the 
assailants.  Five  of  them  were  killed,  and  the  rest 
fled.  After  this  blow,  Lasalle  proceeded  on  with- 
out stopping,  till  he  reached  the  Natchez,  who  were 


'■im 


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Sdences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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[1G81 


much  pleased  at  seeing  the  scalps  of  the  Quiiiipissas, 
111  the  hands  of  the  Indians  accompanying  him. 

The  French,  being  invited  to  an  entertainment, 
noticed  with  surprise  that  not  a  woman  of  their  hosts 
was  among  them.  A  moment  after,  a  number  of 
armed  men  appeared.  Lasalie  immediately  arose 
and  ordered  his  men  to  take  their  arms.  The  head 
man  requested  him  not  to  be  alarmed,  and  directed 
the  armed  ones  of  his  nation  to  halt;  informing  his 
guests  they  were  a  party,  who  had  been  skirmishing 
with  the  Iroquois,  and  assured  them  that  no  indivi- 
dual of  his  nation  harboured  any  other  sentiment 
towards  the  French,  but  that  of  esteem  and  friend- 
ship. Notwithstanding  this  assurance,  the  French 
sat  off  in  the  belief  that  Lasalle's  quick  motion  had 
averted  a  blow. 

The  Taensas  and  Arkansas  received  the  party, 
with  as  much  cordiality  as  when  they  went  down. 
The  .French  left  the  latter  tribe  on  the  twelfth  of 
May,  and  stopped  at  Fort  Prudhomme.  Lasalie 
found  himself  too  unwell  to  proceed  :  he  therefore 
sent  the  Chevalier  de  Tonti  forward,  with  twenty 
men,  French  and  Indians.  His  indisposition,  de- 
tained him  among  the  Chickasaws  for  nearly  two 
months,  and  he  joined  the  Chevalier  at  Michillima- 
chinack,  in  the  latter  part  of  September.  They 
spent  a  few  days  together  there,  and  the  latter  went 
to  take  the  command  of  Fort  St.  Louis  of  the  Illinois, 
and  the  former  continued  his  route  to  Quebec. 

The  Count  de  Frontenac  had  sailed  for  France 
some  time  before  Lasalle^s  arrival.  The  relation 
the  latter  gave  of  his  expedition,  excited  great  joy  in 
Canada.  He  was  impatient  to  announce  his  success 
to  his  sovereign,  and  took  shipping  tor  France  in 
October. 


Charlevoix. — Tonti. — Hennepin, 


:e6s 
in 


10821 


THE  FIFTH 


CHAPTER  V. 


JO.S 


Le  Febvre  de  la  Barre. — De  Meuhs. — Lasalle  arrives  in 
France. — The  Marquis  of  Scignelai. — Expedition  for 
the  Mississippi. —  Volunteers^  soldiers  and  colonists, 
mechanics,  priests. — The  jleet   weighs   anchor,   under 

Beaujeu. — Hispaniola. — Cuba. Beaujeu  misses  the 

mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  and  is  driven  tvestwardly. — 
Bay  of  St.   Bernard. — Lasalle   attempts    to  find  the 
Mississippi  by  land. — Indians. — One  of  the  vessels  is 
cast    ashore. — James    11. — Commerce    of    Canada. — 
Champigny  de  JVorroy. — Card  money. — Beaujeu  sails 
for  France. — A  fort  built  at  the  ivestern  extremity  of 
the  bay  of  Sf.  Bernard. — Another  attempt  to  find  the 
Mississippi. — Point  Huricr. — An   establishment   com- 
menced on  the  banks  of  Rio  Colorado,  or  Riviere  aux 
vaches. — The  fortifications  on  the  gulf  are  demolished, 
and  all  the  colonists  remove  to  Colorado,  where  they  build 
a  new  fort. — The  Chevalier  de  Tonti  descends  the  Mis- 
sissippi, in  search  of  the  colonists. — Theyaic  distressed 
by  disease,  Indian  hostilities  and  famine. — Last  attempt 
to  fiwd  the  Mississippi. — Irruptions  of  the  Iroquois  in 
Canada. — The  Marquis  de  Denonville. — His  corres- 
pondence with  {he  Governor  of  JVew    York, — Paste- 
board money. — Lasalle  loses  his  last  vessel,  and  sets  off 
for   the    Illinois. — Buffaloes. — Biscatonge    Indians. — 
Chinonoas. — Rattle  Snake. — Cents. — JVassonites  — 
Sickness  and  return  of  Lasalle. — State  of  the  colony. — 
Lasalle  determines  to  return  to  France,  by  the  way  of 
Canada. — One  of  his  party  falls  sick,  is  sent  back  and 
killed  by  the  Indians. — Resentment  of  his  brother. —  The 
party  stops  to  kill  buffaloes,  and  cure  the  meat. — Muti- 
ny.— Lasalle  and  his  nephew  are  murdered. — Division 
of  the  party. — The  murderers  quarrel  and  some  of  them 


i 


.*a 


m 


^M 


\i 


■:p': 


«». 


•SSI 


I 


If  'U    r;:}^ 

it  r  '  :  i 

.*  %■>.■■■       ■  ; . . 

■i:  v!i     ■• 


!    '      \ 


lli 


I 


104 


CHAPTER 


[1683 


are  killed  ;  the  others  seek,  refuge  among  the  Indians. — 
Lasalle''s  brother^  Father  JIthanase  and  Jive  others^  reach 
the  Arkansas. — Couture  and  Delaunay. — Lasalle^s  bro- 
ther and  his  companions  i(o  to  the  /llinoisf  and  from 
thence  to  Quebec^  and  embcrrkfor  France. 

LE  FEBVRE  DE  LA  BARRE,  the  successor  of 
Count  de  Frontenac  in  the  government  of  New 
France,  and  de  Meules,  the  new  intendant,  landed  at 
Quebec  in  the  spring  of  1683. 

Lasalle  was  received  at  court,  with  all  the  atten- 
tion due  to  a  man,  who  had  planned  and  carried 
into  execution,  an  enterprise  so  useful  to  the  nation; 
and  the  Marquis  de  Seignelay,  who  had  succeeded 
Colbert,  liis  lather,  in  the  ministry  of  the  Marine, 
gave  directions  some  time  after  for  the  preparation 
of  an  expedition  at  la  Rochelle,  in  order  to  enable 
Lasalle  to  plant  a  French  colony,  on  the  banks  of 
the  Mississippi. 

The  vessels,  destined  for  this  service,  were  the 
king's  ship  the  Joli,  the  frigate  the  Aimable,  the  brig 
la  Belle  and  the  ketch  St.  Francis.  The  command 
of  them  was  given  to  Beaujeu. 

Twelve  young  gentlemen  accompanied  Lasalle  as 
volunteers ;  a  company  of  fifty  soldiers  was  given 
him,  and  the  king  granted  a  free  passage,  and  made 
a  liberal  advance  in  money,  provisions  and  imple- 
ments of  husbandry,  to  twelve  families  who  consen- 
ted to  emigrate.  A  number  of  usetul  mechanics 
were  also  embarked,  with  some  other  individuals. 
In  order  to  provide  for  the  spiritual  wants  of  these 
people,  five  clergymen,  one  of  whom  was  Lasalle's 
brother,  were  sent.  Thus,  besides  the  ollicers  and 
crews,  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  persons  accom- 
panied Lasalle. 

Beaujeu  did  not,  however,  weigh  anchor  till  the 


4 


1684] 


THE  FIFTH. 


10;. 


the 


fourth  of  July  1684.  He  shaped  his  course  for  His- 
pariiola;  but  before  he  reached  it,  tt  storm  scattered 
his  small  fleet.  The  Aimable  and  the  Belle  reached 
together  Petit  Goave,  where  the  Joli  had  arrived 
before  them.  The  St.  Francis,  being  a  dull  sailor, 
was  overtaken  and  captured  by  two  Spanish  priva- 
teers. A  severe  indisposition  detained  Lasalle  or 
shore  for  several  days;  during  which,  many  of  his 
people,  yielding  to  the  incitement  of  a  warm  climate, 
favoured  by  the  want  of  occupation,  became  the  vic- 
tims of  intemperance  and  consequent  disease ;  and 
several  died. 

The  fleet  sat  sail  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  November, 
and  was  for  many  days  becalmed ;  on  the  ninth  of 
December,  it  was  betbre  the  Cape  de  los  corrientes  in 
the  island  of  Cuba,  and  on  the  twenty-seventh,  their 
observation  showed  them  to  be  in  the  twenty-eighth 
degree  of  northern  latitude.  Their  reckoning  an- 
nounced the  approach  of  land,  and  towards  sun 
down,  they  found  bottom  in  thirty-two  fathoms.  La- 
salle and  Beaujpu  determined  on  sailing  W.  N.  W., 
till  the  water  shoaled  to  six  fathoms,  and  on  the 
twenty-ninth  they  saw  land,  at  the  apparent  distance 
of  six  leagues. 

There  was  no  person  in  the  fleet,  acquainted  with 
the  coast.  Lasalle,  noticing  a  strong  current  easter- 
ly, thought  himself  near  the  Apalaches.  The  ves- 
sels continued  sailing  in  the  same  direction,  and  on 
new  year's  day  the  afichor  was  cast  in  six  tathoms, 
the  land  appearing  distant  about  four  leagues.  Two 
boats  were  ordered  ashore.  Lasalle  went  in  one  of 
them.  He  had  hardly  landed,  when  the  wind  grow- 
ing fresher  and  fresher,  he  was  compelled  to  re- 
turn; the  other  boat  was  behind  and  followed  him 
biick.  The  land  w;is  flat  and  woody.  He  took  ap 
observation,  and  found  himself  in  twenty-nine,  ten. 

LOU.  I.  14 


;■?'■ 


':i 


„  •  '  "  ,!■<   4    At 


■  I,  ';- 


^ 

1      ,        1  ^ 

i 

♦.  ■■ 

■i 

■       ■■         .,      ' 

V 

1 
,    1 

I 

I 


t\^ 


iOo 


CHAPTER 


tl685 


The  weather  uas  hazy,  and  the  wind  continued 
high.  The  coast  appeared  lined  with  battures  and 
breakers.  Sailing  again  W.  N.  W.  as  soon  as  the 
wind  abated,  they  vainly  sought  for  several  days  the 
mouth  of  the  Mississippi.  On  the  thirteenth,  they 
sent  ashore  for  water;  a  number  ot  Indians  came 
along  the  beach ;  the  wind  was  from  the  sea.  The 
fleet  cast  anchor,  within  half  a  league  from  the  shore. 
The  natives  seemed  by  gestures,  to  seek  to  induce 
the  French  to  land.  They  shewed  their  bows,  then 
laid  them  on  the  ground,  and  walked  composedly 
along,  with  arms  akimbo.  A  white  handkerchiei 
was  waved  at  the  end  of  a  musket,  as  an  invitation 
to  them  to  approach.  Throwing  a  log  into  the 
water,  they  swam  aboard,  each  keeping  one  arm  on 
the  log. 

Lasalle  attempted  in  vain  to  make  himself  under- 
stood. The  natives  pointed  to  hogs,  fowls  and  the 
hide  of  a  cow,  apparently  desirous  to  convey  the 
idea  of  their  having  such  animals.  Small  presents 
were  made,  which  seemed  to  gratify  them  much. 
When  they  went  back,  the  shallowness  of  the  water 
preventing  the  close  approach  of  the  boats,  the  In- 
dians swam  away.  The  French  thought  the  natives 
gave  them  to  understand  there  was  a  great  river  near, 
which  occasioned  the  battures. 

Lasalle  now  began  seriously  to  apprehend  he  had 
passed  the  Mississippi,  and  proposed  to  Beaujeu  to 
sail  back.  The  naval  commander  was  of  a  different 
opinion,  and  nothing  was  determined  on  for  several 
days.  At  last,  Lasalle  selecting  half  a  dozen  of  men, 
undertook  to  seek  the  mighty  stream  by  a  march 
along  the  shore.  The  weather  was  extremely  hazy, 
the  land  low,  flat  and  sandy,  destitute  of  grass,  and 
fresh  Water  was  only  to  be  found  in  stagnant  pools. 
He  noticed  numerous  tracks  of  deer,  and  saw  a  great 


luesj 


THE  FIFTH 


J07 


IT^ 

.  '  if 

■ .  'i'  1 

1  '.'■          .■'  : 

great 


number  of  water  fowls ;  having  wandered  from  day 
break  till  three  o'clock,  Lasalle  began  to  despair, 
and  brought  his  men  back ;  he  spent  several  days  in 
vain  attempts  to  induce  Beaujeu  to  come  to  some 
determination. 

He  next  landed  one  hundred  and  twenty  men,  with 
the  view  of  sending  them  along  the  shore,  wliile  the 
Belle  sailed  in  the  same  direction,  till  they  reached 
the  river  he  was  in  quest  of.  He  gave  the  command 
of  them  to  Joutel,  who  marched  at  their  head  on  the 
fourth  of  February,  and  on  the  eighth  came  to  a  wide 
stream,  on  the  banks  of  which  he  halted  for  the 
Belle.  Tired  of  waiting,  Joutel  had  ordered  a  raft 
to  be  built  to  cross  the  stream,  when  the  Joli  and 
the  Belle  hove  in  sight,  and  Lasalle  came  soon  after 
with  the  Aimable.  Beaujeu,  now  ordered  out  the 
boats  of  the  three  vessels,  to  sound  on  the  bar,  and 
in  the  channel,  which  he  directed  to  be  staked. 
Finding  there  was  a  sufficiency  of  water,  it  was 
thought  best  to  bring  the  shipping  over  the  bar. 
The  Joli  and  the  Belle  accordingly  came  in,  and 
anchored  in  safety,  but  the  Aimable  struck  on  the 
bar  and  soon  after  went  ashore.  It  was  believed, 
that  design,  not  accident,  had  occasioned  this  mis- 
fortune ;  Aigran,  who  commanded  her,  having  re- 
fused to  receive  on  board  a  pilot  of  the  Belle,  sent 
by  Lasalle,  to  follow  the  stakes,  or  permit  an  anchor 
to  be  cast,  when  the  vessel  struck.  During  the 
night,  the  wind  rose  and  the  waves  became  violent; 
she  went  to  pieces  with  a  boat  of  the  Joli,  which  had 
been  used  in  saving  part  of  her  lading,  and  had  been 
left  fastened  to  the  wreck.  Lasalle  had  to  lament, 
with  the  loss  of  this  vessel,  that  of  a  quantity  of  pro- 
visions, ammunition  and  implements  of  husbandry. 
He  saved  a  few  barrels  X)f  tlour,  wine  and  brandy, 
and  some  powder. 


V  t>:'X' 


1 

V 

h 

4 

i  , 

ll:.'* 

t.)!!' 

» 

it. 

i 

■ 

'I 

-.1 

1 

1 

'*         ■                 . 

■M 


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n 


M 


•I  I 


los 


CHAPTER 


[1U80 


A  party  of  Indians  came  to  the  camp;  lie  made 
them  some  trifling  presents,  witli  which  they  ap- 
peared much  pleased.  At  their  request,  he  visited 
their  village,  consisting  of  about  fifty  cabins,  at  a 
small  distance  from  the  shore.  Other  parties  on  the 
following  day  hovered  around  the  camp,  without 
venturing  to  attack  it.  They  captured  and  carried 
off  two  white  men,  who  had  straggled  to  a  distance. 
A  party  went  in  pursuit  of  them,  and  compelled  the 
surrender  of  the  prisoners.  The  Indians  returned 
a  few  nights  afterwards  in  great  numbers  :  and,  just 
at  the  dawn  of  day,  the  camp  was  assailed  hy  a 
volley  of  arrows,  which  killed  two  and  wounded  se- 
veral men  in  the  camp.  An  instant  and  rapid  flight 
enabled  the  Indians  to  avoid  pursuit. 

On  the  sixth  of  February  1685,  on  the  demise  of 
Charles  the  second  of  England,  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
five,  without  issue,  his  brother  James  the  second, 
succeeded  him. 

With  the  view  of  encreasing  the  commerce  of 
New  France,  and  aflfording  to  the  nobility  of  Canada 
the  means  of  extending  their  fortunes,  Louis  the 
fourteenth,  by  an  edict  of  the  month  of  March  of  the 
same  year,  permitted  them  to  engage  in  trade,  by 
land  and  sea,  Avithout  thereby  committing  any  act 
of  derogation. 

This  wise  measure  at  home,  was  followed  by  one 
of  a  different  character  in  the  colony.  Canada  was 
greatly  distressed  by  the  scarcity  of  a  circulating 
medium,  universally  felt  in  all  new  settlements,  and 
Champigny  de  Norroy,  who  succeeded  de  Meules  in 
the  intendancy,  sought  relief  in  an  emission  of  card 
money,  which  was  put  into  circulation,  under  an  or- 
dinance of  the  governor  and  intendant. 

Each  card  bore  the  stamp  of  the  king's  arms,  and 
its  value,  was  signed  by  the  colonial  treasurer,  and 


>    1 


ItiBoJ 


THE  FIFTH 


iOH 


had  the  coats  of  arms  of  the  governor  and  intendant, 
impressed  on  wax. 

Beaujeu  sailed  for  France  on  the  fifteenth  of 
March,  in  the  Joh,  taking  with  him  the  captain  and 
most  of  the  crew  of  the  Aimable.  He  refuse»d  to 
land  a  numherof  cannon  balls,  which  he  had  bronght 
for  the  colony,  on  the  pretence  that  they  were  in  the 
bottom  of  his  ship,  and  he  could  not  unload  her  with- 
out risk.  He  left  twelve  pieces  of  cannon,  but  not  a 
single  ball. 

After  his  departure,  Lasalle  occupied  himself  in 
building  a  fort  at  the  western  extremity  of  the  bay, 
which  now  bears  the  name  of  St.  Bernard,  and  gar- 
risoned it  with  one  hundred  men.  Leaving  Moran- 
gies,  his  nephew,  in  command  there,  he  sat  off  with  a 
party  of  fifty  men,  accompanied  by  the  abbe  de  La- 
salle his  brother,  and  two  recollct  friars,  father  Ze- 
nobe,  who  had  descended  the  Mississippi  with  him 
a  kw  years  before,  and  father  Maxime.  His  object 
was  to  seek  for  the  month  of  the  Mississippi  river, 
at  the  bottom  of  the  bay.  The  captain  of  the  Belle, 
was  directed  to  sound  this  estuary  in  his  boats,  and 
to  bring  the  vessel  as  far  as  he  could ;  he  followed 
the  coast  to  a  point,  which  was  called  Point  Hurier, 
after  an  officer,  who  was  left  there  with  a  few  men, 
to  throw  up  a  small  work.  The  party  now  pro- 
ceeded to  the  eastern  extremity  of  the  bay,  and  to  a 
considerable  distance  beyond,  and  returned  without 
finding  the  Mississippi. 

In  the  middle  of  April,  Lasalle  established  a  new 
post  sixteen  miles  up  a  river,  which  from  the  number 
of  cows  he  found  on  its  bank,  he  called  Cow  River ; 
it  is  believed  to  be  the  one  called  by  the  Spaniards 
Rio  Colorado  de  Texas.  A  party  of  Indians  came  to 
attack  him ;  but  they  were  repulsed. 

Towards  the  latter  part  of  the  month,  Lasalle  re. 


^tf 


'■'ii 


\'r 


I  '. 


-i^ 


i   \P 


■i 


•  ) 

!'■  *  1 
I'll 


nu 


CIIAPTEU 


[168* 


turned  to  the  fort,  in  which  he  had  left  Morangies. 
On  Easter  Sunday,  divine  service  was  performed 
with  great  solemnity,  every  one  receiving  the  sacra- 
ment. 

This  fort  and  the  small  work  thrown  up  by  Hu- 
rler, were  now  abandoned  and  demolished ;  all  the 
colornsts  removingtothenewsettlement,with  all  their 
effects.  The  ground  was  prepared  for  cultivation, 
and  a  number  of  houses  were  elected  for  common 
and  private  use.  A  fort  was  built,  in  which  twelve 
pieces  of  cannon  were  mounted,  and  a  large  sub- 
terraneous magazine  made.  The  ibrt  was  called 
Fort  St.  Louis. 

In  the  mean  while,  the  chevalier  de  Tonti,  hav- 
ing received  intelligence  from  Canada  of  the  depar- 
ture of  a  fleet  from  France,  in  which  Lasalle  wag 
bringing  colonists  to  the  Mississippi,  left  the  fort  at 
the  Illinois,  in  order  to  meet  his  ibrmer  chief.  The 
Indians  every  where  greeted  the  chevalier,  who 
reached  the  mouth  of  the  river,  without  being  able 
to  receive  any  information  of  his  countrymen,  fie 
staid  there  several  weeks,  and  the  bor.ts,  which  he 
sent  towards  the  east  and  west  in  seaich  of  Lasalle, 
returned  without  any  account  of  him.  Despairing 
of  being  more  successful  if  he  staid  longer,  he  re- 
luctantly reascended  the  stream.  The  tree,  on 
which  Lasalle  had  two  years  before  placed  the  es- 
cutcheon of  France,  had  been  upi'ooted  in  a  storm, 
and  the  chevalier  raised  another  token  of  the  pos- 
session taken  for  the  king,  on  the  banks  of  the  river, 
about  twenty  miles  from  the  sea.  Mortified  and 
chagrined,  he  progressed  slowly,  stopping  in  the  vil- 
lages on  the  way,  endeavouring  to  obtain  some  ac- 
count of  the  French  colonists.  All  his  attempts 
proved  fruitless,  and  he  reached  his  fort  among  the 
Illinois,  in  the  month  of  May. 


met!) 


THE  FIFTH. 


Ill 


During  the  fall,  most  of  the  colonists  on  Rio  Colo- 
rado sickened  and  many  died. 

The  Indians  frequently  came  near  the  fort,  and  at 
times  killed  such  of  the  French  who  strayed  into  the 
woods.  Lasaile  marched  against  them,  v\ith  a  party 
whom  he  had  provideil  with  a  kind  of  wooden 
jackets,  that  protected  them  against  arrows.  He 
killed  several  Indians,  and  made  some  prisoners. 
A  little  girl  ahout  lour  years  of  age,  who  was  then 
taken,  was  the  first  of  the  natives,  who  received  bap- 
tism in  the  colony. 

Disease  and  the  fatigues  of  this  kind  of  warfare, 
interrupted  so  much  the  labours  of  agriculture,  that 
but  a  scanty  crop  was  made.  The  seed  grain  hav- 
ing been  brought  shelled  was  a  circumstance  that 
had  its  effect,  in  disappointing  the  hopes  of  the  sower: 
wheat  seldom  coming  well  in  virgin  ground,  when 
the  seed  has  not  been  kept  in  the  ear. 

The  captain  of  the  Belle,  having  gone  a  hunting 
with  half  a  dozen  of  his  men,  was  surprised  by  a 
party  of  Indians,  who  slew  them  all.  After  paying 
the  last  duty  to  their  bodies,  Lasalle  and  his  brother, 
attended  by  twenty  men,  left  the  fort  with  the  view 
of  resuming  the  search  of  the  Mississippi. 

The  bay  he  was  on  received  a  number  of  rivers, 
none  of  which  was  of  such  a  depth  or  width,  as 
allowed  it  to  be  considered  as  a  branch  of  the  mighty 
one.  Lasalle  visited  them  all.  He  was  impeded  in 
his  progress  by  the  difficulty  of  crossing  them,  by 
almost  incessant  rains,  and  the  necessity,  at  every 
stage,  to  provide  against  a  sudden  attack.  On  the 
thirteenth  of  February  1686,  he  came  to  so  wide 
and  deep  a  stream,  that  he  suspected  it  to  be  that  he 
was  looking  for.  He  threw  up  a  light  work  on  its 
banks,  in  which  he  placed  nine  men.  Proceeding 
higher  up,  he  came  to  a  large  village  of  Indians, 


i' 

51 


1*4)t. 


I!! 


,1  \  >j 


u« 


CUAI'TER 


[160t> 


uliero  ho  was  conlially  received.  From  the  infor- 
maliori  he  received,  he  was  convinced  his  conjec- 
ture was  erroneous  :  after  a  further  progress,  he  re- 
trogaded,  took  back  his  nine  men,  and  returned  to 
the  settlement  which  he  reached  on  the  last  day  ol 
May. 

The  Iroquois  encouraged  and  aided  by  governor 
Dongan  of  New  York,  continued  their  irruptions  on 
the  frontier  settlements  of  Canada,  and  Louis  the 
fourteenth  was  induced,  at  the  pressing  solicitations 
of  the  colonists,  to  send  a  body  of  troops  to  their 
succour.  Labarre  being  old  and  infirm,  the  Marnuis 
de  Denonville  was  sent  to  relieve  him.  In  his  hrst 
communication  to  the  minister,  which  is  of  the  eighth 
of  May  1 686,  this  officer  recommended  the  erection 
of  a  fort,  wilh  a  garrison  of  four  or  five  hundred  men 
at  Niagara,  to  shut  out  the  English  from  the  lakes  ; 
secure  exclusively  the  fur  trade  to  Canada,  afford 
an  asylum  to  the  allied  Indians,  and  deprive  deser- 
ters from  the  king's  troops  of  the  facility  of  joining 
the  English  at  Albany;  who  employed  them  as 
guides  in  military  and  commercial  excursions,  among 
the  tribes  in  alliance  with  the  French. 

The  Marquis  encreased  the  garrison  of  Fort  Fon- 
tenac,  and  furnished  it  abundantly  with  provisions 
and  ammunition.  This  gave  umbrage  to  governor 
Dongan,  who  wrote  him  the  Iroquois  considered 
this  reinforcement  as  the  prelude  to  the  invasion  of 
their  country;  that  these  Indians  were  the  allies, 
nay  the  subjects  of  the  English  crown,  and  an  act  of 
hostility  against  them  could  oidy  be  viewed  as  an 
infraction  of  the  peace,  which  existed  between  France 
and  England ;  that  he  was  informed  a  fort  was 
about  to  be  erected  at  Niagara;  a  circumstance 
which  surprised  him  the  more,  as  the  Marquis, 
though  but  lately  arrived  in  America,  could  not  well 


be 


inofl] 


THE  FIFTH. 


U.. 


ro- 


bo  siipposod  ifrnoraiit  of  that   part  of  the  country 
brinj^  within  thr  province  of  New  Vork. 

The  Marcjuis  answered,  that  the  consciousness  of 
the  Iroquois,  t|iat  tliey  (!eserve<l  chastisement, 
could  ah)ne  excite  their  appreliensions :  however, 
the  supplies  s<Mit  (o  Tort  Fontenac  ought  not  to 
have  alarmed  'these  Indians,  as  (here  had  always 
heer\  a  large  garrison  at  that  post,  and  the  dilficulty 
of  supplying  it  rendertMl  it  necessary  to  improve 
every  ojiportunity ;  that  the  governor  was  under  an  ^ 
error,  as  to  the  right  of  his  sovereign  to  the  country 
ol  the  lro(piois  ,  he  ought  to  have  known,  that  the 
French  had  taken  possession  of  it,  long  before  any 
Englishman  came  to  New  York ;  that,  however,  ap 
the  kings  of  England  and  France  were  now  at  peace, 
it  did  not  behoove  their  olficers  in  America,  to  enter 
into  any  alt<*rcation  about  their  rights. 

Louis  the  fourteenth  having  approved  the  emis- 
sion of  card  money  made  in  Canada,  during  the  pre- 
ceding year,  another  emission  was  now  prepared 
in  Paris,  in  which  pasteboard  was  used  instead  of 
cards.  An  impression  was  made  on  each  piece,  of 
the  coin  of  the  kingdom,  of  the  corresponding  value. 

Pasteboard  proving  inconvenient,  cards  were 
again  resoited  to.  Each  had  the  flourish,  which  the 
itttendant  tisually  added  to  his  signature.  He  signed 
all  those  of  the  value  of  four  livres  and  upwards,  and 
those  of  six  livres  and  above,  were  also  signed  by 
the  governor. 

Once  a  year,  at  a  fixed  period,  the  cards  were  re- 
quired to  be  brought  to  the  colonial  treasury,  and 
exchanged  for  bills  on  the  treasurer-general  of  the 
marine,  or  his  deputy  at  Rochefort.  Those,  which 
appeared  too  ragged  for  circulation,  were  burnt,  and 
the  rest  again  paid  out  of  the  treasury. 

For  awhile,  the  cards  were  thus  punctually  ex- 

LOU.  I.  IT) 


i*i|i*i- 


;••>'! 


I'll  I 


«• 
■  -^1 


'   n 


114 


CHAPTER 


[1686 


changed  once  a  year ;  but  in  course  of  time,  bills 
ceased  to  be  given  for  them.  Their  value,  which  till 
then  had  been  equal  to  gold,  now  began  to  diminish ; 
the  price  of  all  commodities  rose  proportionably,  and 
the  colonial  government  was  compelled,  in  order  to 
meet  the  increased  demands  on  its  treasury,  to  re- 
sort to  new  and  repeated  emissions ;  and  the  people 
found  a  new  source  of  distress,  in  the  means  adopted 
for  their  relief 

The  English  colonies  in  America,  in  the  latter  part 
of  the  seventeenth  and  the  first  of  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury, had  also  recourse  to  emissions  of  paper  cur- 
rency. They  every  where  yielded  at  first,  a  mo- 
mentary relief  The  currency  borrowed  its  value 
from  confidence ;  moderaiion  might  have  preserved, 
but  profusion  almost  universally  destroyed  it,  and 
the  depreciated  paper  proved  a  greater  evil  than 
that  it  was  intended  to  remedy. 

The  earliest  emissions  in  these  colonies,  date  in 
those  of  New  England  of  1696,  in  New  York  of  1709, 
in  New  Jersey  of  1720,  in  Pennsylvania  of  1722,  in 
Delaware  of  1730,  in  North  Carolina  and  Barbadoes 
of  170 J,  and  in  South  Carolina  of  1703.  If  the  co- 
lonies of  Maryland  and  Virginia,  during  the  period 
of  their  dependence  on  the  crown,  had  no  paper 
currency  (a  circumstance  which  has  not  been  ascer- 
tained) it  was  probably  owing  to  their  finding  in  tobac- 
co, their  staple  commodity,  the  means  of  substituting 
the  contract  of  exchange  to  that  of  sale.  Merchants 
there  kept  their  accounts  in  pounds  of  tobacco,  and 
the  tiees  of  the  colonial  oflScers  were  by  law  fixed 
and  made  payable  in  that  article. 

A  lew  days  after  the  return  of  Lasalle  to  the  fort, 
the  Belle  was  cast  ashore  in  a  hurricane  and  bilged. 
The  orticer  who  commanded  her,  the  chaplain  and 
four  of  her  crew,  alone  escaped.     With  her,  thirty- 


[1686 

bills 
K  till 
nish ; 
,  and 
er  to 

0  re- 
eople 
apted 

r  part 
ticen- 
:  cur- 
a  mo- 
value 
erved, 
t,  and 

1  than 

late  in 
fl709, 
722,  in 
ladoes 
he  co- 
period 
paper 
ascer- 
tobac- 
ituting 
•chants 
20,  and 
w  fixed 

le  fort, 

bilged. 

Hin  and 

thirty- 


1686J 


THE  FIFTH 


lU 


six  barrels  of  flour,  some  wine  and  a  quantity  of 
merchandize  were  lost.  She  was  the  only  vessel 
remaining  in  the  colony,  and  would  have  been  of 
vast  service  to  Lasalle ;  he  expected  to  have  sailed 
in  her  to  Hispaniola,  in  search  of  succour.  On  the 
loss  of  his  last  vessel,  he  determined  to  proceed  to 
Fort  St.  Louis  of  the  Illinois,  in  order  to  apprize 
government  of  his  miscarriage,  and  solicit  farther 
aid. 

Accompanied  by  his  brother  and  nephew,  by  father 
Athanase,  fifteen  other  Frenchmen  and  two  trusty 
Indians,  who  had  followed  him  from  Canada,  on  the 
twenty-second  of  May,  mass  having  been  said  to 
implore  the  benediction  of  heaven  on  his  journey,  he 
sat  off  and  travelled  northeasterly,  taking  with  him 
two  canoes  and  two  sleighs. 

He  crossed  several  streams,  and  saw  large  herds 
of  buffaloes,  among  which  were  a  few  horses,  so 
wild  that  they  could  not  be  caught  without  great  ad- 
dress and  much  difficulty.  Every  night,  he  took  the 
precaution  of  surrounding  his  camp  with  poles,  to 
guard  against  surprise.  On  the  twenty-fifth,  towards 
noon,  he  met  with  four  Indians  on  horseback,  of  a 
tribe  called  the  Quoaquis ;  their  dresi>  was  chiefly 
of  leather ;  they  had  boots,  saddles  and  a  kind  of 
shield  of  the  same  material,  and  wooden  stirrups ; 
the  bits  of  their  bridles  were  of  wolf  or  bear's  teeth. 
They  inquired  who  the  party  were,  and,  being  in- 
formed, invited  them  to  their  village. 

Two  days  after,  Lasalle  crossed  a  river,  which  he 
called  Riber,  from  one  of  the  party,  who  was  drowned 
in  crossing  it.  Here  he  halted  for  six  days ;  his  men 
killed  a  buffalo,  and  salted  and  smoked  the  meat. 
Three  days  after  he  crossed  another  stream,  which 
he  called  Hiens,  after  one  of  the  party,  who  sank 


■mm 

■  ;><].)<  IH 

,  .^t'ill 

( 

t. 

'  '•    •*• 

r'^x.-y'd 


l>,V' 


.!> 


I' 


« 


.':  n 


il 


lie 


CHAPTER 


[1686 


into  the  mud  and  was  drawn  out  with  great  diffi- 
culty. 

Lasalle  now  altered  his  course,  travelling  due 
east.  After  a  march  of  several  days,  he  came  to  a 
tribe  called  the  Biscatonges,  where  he  obtained 
dressed  buffalo  skins,  of  which  his  men  made  mocko- 
sons,  a  kind  of  covering  for  the  foot,  much  used  by 
the  Indians,  and  resembling  a  mitten  or  a  glove 
without  fingers.  These  Indians  also  suppHed  La- 
salle with  canoes  ;  the  two,  he  had  brought  from  the 
fort,  being  already  so  crazy  as  to  be  of  but  little  use. 

On  the  following  day,  as  the  French  approached 
a  village,  one  of  them  shot  a  deer;  this  so  terrified 
the  Indians,  that  they  all  fled.  T.asalle  ordered  his 
men  under  arms,  as  they  entered  the  village.  It  con- 
sisted of  about  three  hundred  cabins;  the  wife  of  one 
of  the  chiefs  was  still  in  hers,  being  so  old  that  she 
could  not  move.  She  was  given  to  understand,  she 
had  nothing  to  fear.  Three  of  her  sons,  who  had 
remained  at  a  small  distance,  noticing  the  peaceable 
demeanor  of  the  strangers,  called  back  her  country- 
men, who  immediately  returned.  They  offered  the 
calumet  to,  and  entertained,  the  French  with  much 
cordiality. 

Unwilling  to  put  too  much  confidence  in  these 
friendly  appear.inces,  Lasalle  encamped  at  night,  on 
the  opposite  side  of  a  cane  brake,  that  encircled  the 
village,  and  surrounded  himself  with  poles  as  usual. 
These  precautions  proved  timely ;  for  during  the 
night,  a  party  of  Indians,  armed  with  arrows,  ap- 
proached. The  rustling  of  the  canes  warning  La- 
salle, ho  gave  them  to  understand,  without  quitting 
his  entrenchment,  that  if  they  did  not  retire,  he 
would  order  his  men  to  fire.  The  night  passed  with- 
out any  further  disturi)ance,  and  in  the  morning,  the 


iG86] 


THE  FIFTH. 


11' 


hosts  and  the  guests  parted  with  apparent  marks  of 
friendship. 

Eight  miles  further,  they  came  to  a  village  of  the 
Chinonoas.  These  Indians  dwelt  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  the  Spaniards,  who  often  came  among  and 
vexed  them.  They  immediately  recognised  the 
French  as  being  of  another  nation,  by  their  language 
and  mien;  and  their  hate  of  the  Spaniards,  inspired 
them  with  the  opposite  sentiment  for  their  present 
visitors,  who  were  not  long  without  letting  their 
hosts  know,  they  were  at  war  with  the  Spaniards. 
The  Indians  pressed  Lasalle  to  tarry,  and  accom- 
pany them  on  an  expedition  they  were  projecting, 
against  their  troublesome  neighbours.  He  excused 
himself  on  the  smallness  of  his  party,  who  were  ill 
provided  with  arms.  He  was  supplied  with  provi- 
sions, and  took  leave. 

On  the  next  day,  Rica,  the  Indian  servant  of  La- 
salle, stopped  suddenly,  exclaimi!ig  he  was  a  dead 
man;  he  immediately  fell,  and  in  a  few  minutes, 
swelled  to  an  astonishing  degree.  He  had  been 
bitten  by  a  rattle  snake.  Alter  the  scarification  of 
the  wound,  and  the  application  of  such  herbs,  as  his 
countrymen  quickly  pointed  out,  he  was  relieved. 
This  accident  detained  the  party  during  two  days. 

They  next  came  to  a  wide  river,  which  rendered 
it  necessary  to  make  a  raft  with  canes  and  branches 
covered  with  hides.  Lasalle,  his  nephew  and  two 
servants,  ventured  on  it  first.  When  they  reached 
the  middle  of  the  stream,  the  violence  of  the  current 
carried  them  out  of  the  sight  of  their  companions. 
After  floating  thus  for  a  couple  of  miles,  the  raft 
rested  on  a  large  tree  which  had  fallen  into  the  river, 
almost  torn  out  by  the  roots.  By  pulling  on  its 
branches,  they  found  the  means  of  reaching  the  op- 
posite shore.     The  rest  of  the  party  remained  all 


■.^ 


'■^  ■  ■.■•■<'  ;i| 


^.}»f 


;*'f 


'Itl 
•  'I 


■r::\s 


^  I'M 


lib 


CHAPTER 


[1686 


the  night  and  the  following  day  in  distressing  un- 
certainty. They  proceeded  along  the  river,  loudly 
calling  their  leader,  and  night  came  on  without  their 
being  relieved ;  but  in  the  morning,  the  calls  being 
resumed,  were  soon  answered  by  Lasalle  from  the 
opposite  shore.  A  stronger  raft  was  made,  and  the 
rest  of  the  party  crossed. 

They  now  refached  a  village  of  the  Cenis,  having 
overtaken  an  Indian  on  horseback,  who  was  return- 
ing to  it.  His  wife  sat  behind  him,  and  other  horses 
followed,  loaded  with  the  produce  of  his  chase.  He 
gave  part  of  it  to  Lasalle,  and  preceded  the  party 
into  the  village,  leaving  his  wife  with  them.  Some 
of  the  chiefs  came  out  to  meet  the  French,  who  staid 
several  days,  and  traded  with  their  hosts  for  some 
horses.  This  was  the  largest  settlement,  Lasalle 
had  come  to.  It  extended  for  upwards  of  twenty 
miles,  interspersed  with  hamlets  of  len  or  twelve 
cabins.  These  were  large,  often  exceeding  forty 
feet  in  length.  Dollars  were  seen  among  the  peo- 
ple, and  many  articles  of  furniture,  as  spoons,  forks, 
plates.  &.C.,  which  manifested  they  traded  with  the 
Spaniards.  Horses  were  in  great  plenty,  and  the 
Indians  very  willing  to  part  with  a  serviceable  one, 
for  an  axe.  Lasalle  saw,  in  one  of  the  cabins,  a 
printed  copy  of  one  of  the  Pope's  Bulls,  exempting 
Mexicans  from  fast  during  the  summer.  The  natives 
made  a  very  good  map  of  their  country  on  pieces  of 
bark,  and  shewed  they  were  within  six  days'  march 
from  the  Spanish  settlements. 

After  staying  five  or  six  days,  Lasalle  proceeded 
to  the  Nassonites,  where  he  was  received  with  much 
courtesy.  It  was  perceivable  that  the  Indians  of  this 
tribe,  had  much  iptercourse  with  the  Spaniards ;  for 
when  they  saw  father  Athanase,  they  made  the  sign 
of  the  cross  and  kneeled,  to  give  him  to  understand, 


1687J 


THE  FIFTH. 


Hi) 


they  were  acquainted  with  the  ceremonies  of  the 
mass.  Here,  lour  men  of  the  party  deserted,  at- 
tracted, as  was  beheved,  by  the  charms  of  some  of 
the  Cenis  women. 

Lasalle  and  his  nephew  fell  dangerously  iH.  Two 
months  elapsed,  before  they  felt  themselves  in  a  si- 
tuation to  travel.  His  ammunition  now  was  exhaust- 
ed, and  he  was  at  the  distance  of  four  hundred  and 
fifty  miles  in  a  straight  line  from  his  fort.  The  party 
unanimously  agreed  to  return.  On  their  march 
back,  one  of  them  attempting  to  swim  across  a  river 
was  devoured  by  an  alligator.  They  reached  the 
fort,  on  the  seventeenth  of  October. 

There  was  a  considerable  tract  of  land  cleared, 
and  under  cultivation.  Comfortable  houses  had 
been  built,  and  gardens  were  to  be  seen  near  most 
of  them ;  the  settlement  was  in  a  flourishing  condi- 
tion, and  the  Indians,  in  the  immediate  neighbour- 
hood, were  friendly. 

After  a  stay  of  two  months  with  the  colonists,  La- 
salle determined  on  returning  by  the  way  of  Canada 
to  France,  in  order  to  solicit  a  reinforcement  of  hus- 
bandmen and  mechanics.  He  sat  ofT  in  the  begin- 
ning of  the  new  year,  accompanied  by  his  brother 
and  nephew,  father  Athanase  and  seventeen  men. 
He  took  the  same  route  as  before.  There  were  in 
the  party,  when  they  left  the  settlement,  two  brothers 
of  the  name  of  Lancelot.  The  younger,  being  weak 
and  infirm,  was  unable  to  keep  up,  and  was  sent  back 
on  the  second  day;  the  elder  was  desirous  to  re- 
turn also ;  but  Lasalle,  thinking  the  party  too  weak, 
refused  his  consent.  The  young  man  was  met  near 
the  settlement  by  a  party  of  Indians,  who  killed  him. 
Intelligence  of  this  misfortuFie  reaching  the  party, 
the  surviving  brother,  casting  the  blame  on  Lasalle, 
did   not  conceal  his  resentment ;   but  vented  it  in 


f '  ^'fyi 


■■■■    l.ij.ll 

■    n 

I 


m 


t#' 


■;  I- 


120 


CHAPTER 


[1G87 


threats.  At  length,  it  seemed  to  have  Bubsided. 
After  a  march  of  about  two  months,  provisions  fail- 
ing, this  man  with  Liotot,  the  surgeon,  Hiens  aod 
Duhault,  were  sent  to  kill  buffaloes  and  salt  and 
smoke  the  meat.  These  persons,  displeased  with 
Lasalle  and  his  nephew,  who  commanded  this  small 
detachment,  plotted  their  destruction.  In  the  even- 
ing of  the  seventeenth  of  March,  Liotot  despatched 
Lasalle's  nephew,  his  servant  and  an  Indian,  with  an 
axe.  His  companions  standing  by,  ready  to  defend 
him  with  their  arms,  had  any  resistance  been  made, 
Lasalle,  missing  his  nephew,  left  the  party  with  father 
Athanase,  and  retrograded.  Meeting  Lancelot,  he 
inquired  whither  his  nephew  was;  the  wretch  pointed 
to  a  spot,  over  which  a  number  of  buzzards  were 
hovering;  as  Lasalle  advanced,  he  met  with  another 
of  the  accomplices,  to  whom  he  put  the  same  ques- 
tion ;  but  Duhault,  who  lay  concealed  in  high  grass, 
fired  ;  the  ball  lodged  in  Lasalle's  head ;  he  fell  and 
survived  an  hour  only.  This  was  on  the  nineteenth 
of  March  1687,  near  the  western  branch  of  Trinity 
River. 

The  murderers,  joined  by  other  malcontents,  tak- 
ing possession  of  the  provisions,  ammunition  and 
every  thing  that  belonged  to  the  deceased,  compel- 
led the  rest  of  the  party  to  continue  with  them.  In 
a  quarrel  among  themselves,  two  of  them  were  killed, 
and  the  rest  sought  an  asylum  among  the  Indians. 

Lasalle's  brother,  lather  Athanase  and  five  others 
continued  their  route  towards  the  Illinois.  A  few 
days  after,  de  Monte,  one  of  them,  bathing  in  a  river, 
was  drowned.  In  the  latter  part  of  July,  this  small 
party  reached  the  country  of  the  Arkansas.  They 
noticed  a  large  cross  fixed  in  the  ground,  near  a 
house  built  like  those  of  the  French  in  Canada. 
Here  they  found  two  of  their  countrymen.  Couture 


1687] 


THE  FIFTlf 


dL2l 


anil  Delaunay,  natives  of  Rouen,  who  liad  come 
thither  I'rotn  the  fort  at  the  Illiiiois.  Here  the  party 
learned  that  the  Chevalier  de  Tonti,  on  his  way 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  to  meet  Lasalle,  had 
left  six  Frenchmen,  at  the  Arkansas;  four  of  whom 
had  returned  to  the  Illinois.  After  staying  sometime 
with  Couture  and  Delaunay,  the  travellers  disposed 
of  their  horses  and  procured  canoes,  in  v'hich  they 
ascended  the  Mississippi,  and  the  river  of  the  Illi- 
nois to  Fort  St.  Louis,  which  they  reached  on  the 
fourth  of  September.  The  Chevalier  de  Tonti  was 
absent,  and  Bellefontaine,  his  lieutenant,  comman- 
ded. The  travellers  thought  it  prudent  to  conceal 
the  death  of  Lasalle ;  they  staid  but  a  few  days  in  the 
fort,  and  proceeded,  by  the  way  of  Michillimackinac 
to  Canada,  and  landed  at  Quebec,  on  the  ninth  of 
October,  and  soon  after  took  shipping  for  France. 


^■m 


■■A\ 


■■'A 


m 


Charlevoix. "^Tonli. — Hennepin: 


■■  *i 


■h    ■ .  -)» 


^tr- 


LOU.  I 


jl6 


■'1   ii  ■ 


:.  -t^ 


•,h 


Im 


:;}  t. 


122 


CllAPTEK 


lC>ii7 


CHAPTEK  VI. 


The  English  excite  the  Iro(jUois  against  the  Indian  allies  of 
the  French. — Proposals  of  James  II.  to  Louia  XIV. 
for  the  neutrality  of  their  Jlmericcm  dominions, — /«- 
structions  to  Denonvtlle. — Th^  Fnglish  attack  Iberville^ 
in  '^ndson'^s  Bay.,  and  he  repels  them, — Iroeptois  Chiefs 
d>     ^c(/,  made  ptisoners  and  sent  to  the  galley 8  at  Mar- 
settles. —  Vandreuil  leads  the  Canadian  Joyces  against  the 
Iroquois. — Correspondence  between  Denonville  and  the 
Governor  of  JVeiv  York. —  The  French  are  attacked  in 
a  defile. — (jiood  conduct  of  their  red  allies  and  the  mi- 
litia.—  The  Iroquois  are  routed.^  one  of  their  villages  is 
burnt.,   and    their  plantations   laid  waste. — Denonville 
marches  buck  to  JSlagara  and  builds  a  fort. — Epidemic 
disease. —  The  Iroquois    ravage   the   plantations   near 
Fort  Frontenac. — They  sue  for  and  obtain  peace. — Po- 
pulation of  Canada. — Mdication  of  James  II. —  Wil- 
liam and  Alary. — Distress  of  the  Colony  on  the  Gidf 
of  Me.vico. — Jllonzo  de  Leon    scours   the   country. — 
Province  of  Texas. — Frontenac  returns  to  JS^ew  France. 
Commissioners  for  settling  the  boundaries  of  the  French 
and  English  Colonies  in  JVorth  America. — Frontenac^s 
instructions. — De  C  allieres. — La  Cajfiniere. — Projected 
attack  of  JVeiv  York. — Irruption  oj  the  Iroquois  — De- 
claration   of  War    between   France   and  England. — 
Corlacr,   Sermentel  and  Kaskebe. — Medal. — Famine. 
Vaudrenil  takes  possession  of  jlcadie. — Du   Palais. — 
The   English  possess  themselves  of  Hudson'' s  Bay. — 
Ibervervtlle  retakes  it  and  winters  there. — Scurvy. — Iber- 
ville reduces  the  Fort  at  Pentagoet. —  The  English  land 
in  Jlcudie  and  distress  the  planters. — Iberville's  success  in 
JYew  Foundland. — Th    Fort  in  Hudson^s  Bay  taken  by 
the  English.,  and  retaken  by  Iberville. — Peace  of  Bis- 
ivick. — IJe  C allieres. 


Ii".;:'/ 


mi] 


THE  SrXTH 


IK) 


DURING  Ihe  fall  oflGB?,  a  party  of  the  Iro(iuois 
fell  on  some  of  the  Indians  in  alliance  with  the 
French  near  Michilliniackinac.  Fathek  Lamber- 
ville,  the  missionary  at  that  post,  was  informed  that 
this  attack  had  been  determined  on  at  a  meetin":  of 
deputies  o(  several  tribes,  the  chiefs  of  which  had 
been  lately  convened  at  Albany,  by  the  governor  of 
New  York,  who  had  assin-ed  them  the  Marcpiis  de 
Denonviile  meant  to  wage  war  against  them:  the 
governor  advised  them  to  begin  it  themselves,  by 
falling  on  the  French  or  their  allies,  whenever  they 
met  them,  as,  not  suspecting  any  attack,  they  wotdd 
be  found  an  easy  prey.  He  promised  that,  whatever 
might  be  the  consequences,  he  never  would  for- 
sake his  red  allies. 

While  the  government  of  New  Vork  was  provok- 
ing its  Indians  to  hostilities  against  Canada,  James 
the  second  was  apparently  pursuing  quite  a  ditfer- 
ent  line  of  conduct.  The  Marquis  received  a  letter 
from  the  Minister,  inibrming  him  that  the  cabinet  of 
St.  James  had  proposed  to  the  Ambassador  of  France, 
a  treaty  of  neutrality,  between  the  subjects  of  the  two 
crowns  in  North  America;  and  its  offers  having  been 
accepted,  one  had  been  concluded  in  the  preceding 
fall.  The  Marquis  was  accordingly  directed  to 
have  the  treaty  puolished  throughout  the  colony,  and 
registered  in  the  superior  council,  and  to  see  it  faith- 
fully executed  by  the  king's  subjects  in  Canada. 

By  the  fourteenth  and  fifteenth  articles,  it  was 
agreed  that  the  two  sovereigns  should  send  or- 
ders to  their  respective  governors  and  other  officers, 
to  cause  to  be  arrested  and  prosecuted,  as  pirates, 
the  captains  and  crews  of  all  vessels,  sailing  without 
a  commission,  and  any  of  the  subjects  of  either  king, 
sailing  under  one  from  a  prince  or  state  at  war  with 
him. 


;»t' 


'M 


If  •' 


n 


I 


m 


hf  i : 


I   '   *•■  ; 


lii'J 


CHAPTER 


[iG8e 


i8»  ■. 


It  docs  not  npppar  that  tlie  Encjlisli  Imd  any  other 
viow,  than  to  hill  the  French  into  srcmily  ;  tor  ihcy 
fell  on  Fort  St.  Anne,  in  Hudson's  iJay  ;  hut  f hcrvillc, 
who  commanded  there,  repelled  the  i>ss;ul;tnls,  look 
one  ol  their  ships,  and  burnt  a  house  which  they  h;id 
erected  on  the  sea-shore. 

Louis  tfie  t'ourtc^enth,  with  the  view  of  increasing 
the  crews  of  his  ji^alleys,  arwl  nven<iiiiy;  the  ill  lre;it- 
ment  of  his  suhjeets  who  fell  into  the  hnnds  ol  the 
Iroquois,  had  directed  the  ^hn(|nis"  pred<*cessor  to 
send  over  all  those  Indians  l;iken  in  uar.  to  he  em- 
ployed on  hoard  of  tlie  jj;alleys  fit  Marseilles.  The 
Marquis,  under  this  order,  hnd  the  ini|)ru(l<Mice  of  de- 
coying, through  vnrious  pretences,  a  nuiid)er  ol  Iro- 
quois Chiefs,  into  Fort  Frontenac,  where  he  had  them 
put  in  irons  and  afterwards  sent  over.  This  uiiloitu- 
natc  step  was  disowned  at  court,  but  the  Indians 
were  not  ordered  back.  The  disavowal  had  the  ef- 
fect of  emboldening  the  Iroquois,  who  attributed  this 
act  of  justice  and  humanity  to  the  king's  apprehen- 
sion ot  exciting  the  resentment  of  their  nation.  It 
attached  them  the  more  to  the  English. 

In  the  summer,  these  Indians  becoming  more  and 
more  troublesome,  it  was  deemed  necessary  to 
march  against  them.  The  Chevalier  de  Vaudreuil, 
who  had  been  sent  to  command  the  troops,  took  the 
field.  He  encamped  on  the  island  of  St.  Helen,  op- 
posite that  of  Montreal,  with  eight  hundred  regulars 
and  one  thousand  militia.  Champigny  de  Norroy, 
the  intendant,  preceded  the  army  to  Fort  Fronte- 
nac: the  Marquis  followed  it.  At  the  fort,  he  received 
a  letter  from  the  governor  of  New  York,  complaining 
bitterly  of  the  French  making  war  against  the  allies 
of  his  sovereign.  At  the  same  time  a  piece  of  infor- 
mation was  received,  showing  that  but  little  reliance 
was  to  l)e  placed  on  the  writer's  apparently  peacea- 


[IGCtf 


lGfi8| 


THE  SIXTH 


I2y 


hie  disposition.  A  parly  of  sixty  while  men  from 
Albany,  attended  ]»y  a  nun)i>er  ol'  Indians,  and  guided 
by  a  French  (leserter,  were  surprised  carrying  goods 
and  amunition  to  Michillimackinac.  The  oHlcer 
commanding  there,  seized  the  goods  and  amunition, 
made  the  Enghsh  prisoners,  and  sent  tlic  deserter  to 
the  Manpiis,  who  had  him  shot. 

The  Jirmy  now  moved  to  the  river  dcs  Sables^  and 
marched  into  the  country  of  the  enemy.  After  hav- 
ing safely  passed  through  two  defdes,  it  was  attacked 
by  a  party  of  about  eight  hundred  Iroquois,  who, 
pouring  a  destructive  tire  on  its  van,  ran  to  at- 
tack its  rear,  whih?  another  party  repeated  the  clmrge 
in  front.  This  threw  the  army  in  some  confusion ; 
but  the  alHed  Indians,  better  used  to  figlit  in  the 
woods,  stood  together,  till  the  French  rallied  to 
them.  The  regulars,  to  whom  this  kind  of  warfare 
was  (piite  novel,  were  not  so  useful  in  this  instance  as 
the  militia.  The  army,  now  collected,  dispersed  the 
Indians.  The  French  had  ordy  six  men  killed  :  the 
Iroquois  forty-five  killed  and  sixty  wounded.  The 
Marquis  now  marched  to  and  encamped  in  one  of 
the  largest  villages  of  the  enemy,  which  was  found 
quite  deserted,  and  every  house  in  it  was  burnt. 
Alter  rambling  for  ten  days,  and  laying  waste  every 
settlement  and  destroying  every  plantation,  the  Mar- 
quis, finding  his  regulars  and  militia  much  weakened 
by  fatigue  and  disease,  and  his  Indians  impatient  of 
returning,  gave  up  the  pursuit  and  returned  to  Nia- 
agara,  where  he  employed  his  men  in  building  a  fort. 

In  the  fall  an  epidemic  disease  ravaged  the  colony. 
Fort  Chambly  and  Fort  Frontenac  were  attacked  in 
November;  although  the  Indians  were  repelled  in 
both  places,  they  committed  great  ravages  on  the 
plantations  of  the  neighbourhood,  and  burnt  several 
houses. 


1 1 . 


|n^: 


,#. 


i 


•;!;  fi! 


u    M 


h^ii 


ClfAPrKli 


i(ii;ti 


'' 


! 


They  ina(l<'  proposals  ofp'^no,  in  lOOlJ,  iUr.  follow, 
iupj  year,  on  crondidon  (hat  (heir  chieis  in  Miirseilleg 
should  he  hron^ht  baek.  The  Marc|uiH  wilhngly  ac- 
cepted these  oilers.  The  Irontier  s«'tllers  had  been 
prevented,  by  the  dread  ol"  new  irruptions,  Irom  cul- 
tivatintr  their  fields.  Dearth  prevailed  all  over  the 
colony,  and  the  enemy  was  the  more  to  be  feared, 
that  he  had  a  powerful  aid  in  the  Fji^lish  at  New  York. 

A(;cording  to  a  census  of  this  year,  Canada  had  a 
population  of  eleven  thousand  two  hundred  and  forty- 
nine  persons. 

James  attempting  to  establish  popery,  had  become 
obnoxious  to  the  people ;  he  was  cruel  and  oppress- 
ive, and  his  subjects,  who,  half  a  century  before,  had 
led  his  father  to  the  scaffold,  offered  his  crown  to  the 
prince  of  Orange,  the  husband  of  his  eldest  daughter. 

W  illiam  landed  in  England, on  the  fourth  of  Novem- 
ber, 1688.  .lames,  terrified,  abdicated  his  crown  and 
iled  to  France.  The  Irish  for  awhile  supported  his 
cause;  but  William  and  Mary  were  soon  affer  re- 
cognised as  sovereigns  of  the  three  kingdoms. 

The  people  left  by  Lasalle  in  Fort  St.  Louis,  not 
receiving  any  succour  from  France,  and  their  stock 
of  amunition  being  exhausted,  were  unable  to  de- 
fend themselves  against  the  neighbouring  Indians. 
Disease  made  great  havoc  among  them  ;  in  the  mean- 
while, the  Viceroy  of  Mexico,  in  compliance  with  a 
standing  article  of  his  instructions,  by  Philip  the.se- 
cond,enjoining  the  extermination  of  all  foreigners  who 
might  penetrate  into  the  gulf  of  Mexico,  directed  an 
expedition  to  be  formed  at  Cohaguilla,  under  the 
orders  of  Don  Alonzo  dc  Leon,  to  scour  the  country 
and  hunt  out  the  French  colonists,  if  any  were  still 
remaining.  This  officer,  with  a  small  force,  arrived 
on  the  twenty-second  of  April,  1689,  at  Fort  St.  Louis, 
and  on  the  twenty-fourth,  at  the  entrance  of  the  bay. 


T\ 


mean- 
with  a 
he.se- 
s  who 
ed  an 
r  the 
untry 
e  still 
rrived 
jouis, 
le  bay. 


low] 


THE  SIXTH 


1'21 


wlirrc  lie  found  \Uv  hullol'llip  French  vessel  that  had 
hern  wreeked.  lie  saw  no  \s\i\\v  man  at  either 
plaer.  Having  heard,  on  his  niarcfi  that  some  oi" 
Lasalle's  companions  wcro  still  Handinnj,^  .ihout  the 
country^  or  had  taken  rv.\u^v  nmon^  the  Indians,  he 
shaped  his  course  towards  the  A^^sinais,  hut  found  no 
trace  of  those  he  was  in  <|uest  ol^  (f  is  said  that  Don 
Alon/o  was  courteously  received  by  the  Assinais, 
and  gave  thes<'  Indians  the  appellation  of  Tcxdf  or 
fnends.  A  few  years  after,  the  Spaniards  sent  mis- 
sionaries into  this  part  of  the?  country,  and  afterwards 
estahlibhed  military  posts  or  presidios^  among  these 
Indians.  These  missions  or  posts  were  the  begin- 
ning of  the  Spanish  settlements  in  the  province  of 
Texas. 

Tlie   Count   de    Frontenac  was    now   appointed 
governor-general  of  New  France.    In  his  instructions, 
which  bear  date  of  the  seventh  of  June,  1 089,  it  is  sta- 
ted that  the  reciprocal  and  repealed  attacks  of  the 
French  and  English  in  Acadie  and  Hudson's   Bay, 
had  induced  the  appointment  ofcommissioncrs,onthe 
part  of  the  two  crowns,  to  report  on  their  respective 
pretentions ;   but,  as  the  facts  alleged,  by  either  party, 
were  not  admitted  by  the  other,  the  conferences  had 
been  suspended,  till  they  could  be  verified.     In  the 
meanwhile,  the  late  revolution  in  England  had  put,  at 
least  for  the  present,  an  end  to  these  negociations. 
The    count  was,    therefore,  instructed  to    aid  the 
company  trading  to   these    places,    and  drive    the 
English  from  the  ground  they  had  usurped.     He  was 
informed  that,  with  regard  to  Acadie,  the  English 
commissioners  had  recognised  the  rights  of  France 
on  the  territory,  as  far  as  Pentagoet ;  and  the  attack 
of  the  forts   on  that  river,  by  tlie  people  of  Boston 
had  been  disavowed ;  and  he  was  instructed  to  take, 
in  concert  with  Monneval,  governor  of  Acadie,  the 


'ill' 


;  i'\ 


1"  M 

M 


!^ 


128 


cnAPTt:R 


fiusu 


measures  necessary  to  prevent  the  repetition  of  a 
like  outrage.  It  was  announced  that  the  king,  in- 
formed that  the  English  of  New  York  continued  their 
intrigues  with  the  Iroquois,  inducing  them  to  wage 
war  against  his  Canadian  subjects  and  his  Indian  al- 
lies, whom  they  supplied  with  arms  and  ammunition, 
had  determined,  on  carrying  into  execution,  a  plan, 
projected  by  Callieres,  the  governor  of  Montreal,  lor 
taking  possession  of  the  city  and  province  of  New 
York,  and  had  directed  La  CalFiniere  to  proceed  with 
a  naval  ibrce  to  Acadie  and  follow  the  count's  direc- 
tions.    • 

On  his  arrival  in  Acadie,  with  this  naval  comman- 
der, while  the  governor-general  was  concerting  with 
him  the  plans  of  simultaneous  attacks  by  the  navy 
on  the  city  of  New  York,  and  the  land  forces  on  Al- 
bany, the  intelligence  he  received  from  Canada  was 
such  as  to  induce  him  to  forego  every  plan  of  otieusive 
operation  against  the  English. 

Fifteen  hundred  Iroouois  made  an  irruption,  in 
the  island  of  Montreal,  on  the  twenty -fifth  of  August. 
This  overpowering  force  struck  every  one  on  the 
island  with  consternation  :  no  resistance  was  made. 
The  Indians  laid  the  plantations  waste,  burnt  the 
bouse  and  massacred  the  male  inhabitants  that  fell 
into  their  hands.  The  females  were  made  prisoners; 
but  even  all  their  lives  were  not  spared.  The  bellies 
of  pregnant  women  were  ripped  open,  and  the  fruit 
torn  out  of  the  womb.  Small  children  were  put  on 
the  spit,  and  the  mother  compelled  to  turn  it.  Two 
hundred  persons  were  killed,  in  the  small  settlement 
of  La  Chine,  the  first  they  attacked.  As  they  advan- 
ced towards  the  town  of  Montreal,  destruction,  fire 
and  smoke  marked  their  way.  They  made  them- 
selves masters  of  the  fort,  notwithstanding  the  vigor- 
ous and  resolute  resistance  of  Kobeyre,  who  com- 


'rrit 


■'h 


1691] 


THE  SIXTH. 


12d 


manded  there.  Thus  they  were  in  possession  of  the 
whole  island ;  they  kept  it  till  October. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  Count  de  Frontenac  at  Que- 
bec, the  Iroquois  retreated  lor  awhile,  in  order  to 
provide  the  means  of  returning  soon,  in  a  situation  to 
pursue  their  irruptions  as  far  as  the  capital,  where 
they  intended  to  cooperate  with  an  English  fleet, 
which  they  expected  to  meet  before  it.  They  boast- 
ed that  before  the  spring,  there  should  not  be  one 
Frenchman  alive  in  Canada. 

In  the  meanwhile,  war  had  been  declared  in 
France  against  Eiigland,  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  June. 
The  winter  was  spent  in  Canada,  in  making  arrange- 
ments tor  the  campaign  of  the  following  year.  The 
chiefs  lost  not,  in  their  attention  to  the  measures 
which  the  defence  of  the  colony  demanded,  the  view 
of  the  offensive  ones,  recommended  by  the  king 
against  New  York  and  Albany — considering  the  re- 
duction of  the  English  colony,  as  the  only  mean  of 
protecting  that  committed  to  their  care:  but  the 
spring  vessels  brought  the  king^s  orders  to  abandon 
the  projected  attack  on  the  city  of  New  York  by  sea, 
the  immense  armaments,  which  circumstances  re- 
quired in  Europe,  disabling  the  minister  of  the  navy 
from  sparing  any  ships  for  that  purpose. 

Three  large  detachments  of  the  army  advanced  in 
the  spring  on  the  northern  frontier  of  New  York,  and 
had  considerable  success.  They  took  Corlaer,  Ser- 
mantel  and  Kaskebe. 

Afterwards,  a  party  of  the  Iroquois  came  to  the 
mouth  of  the  river  Sorel,  and  carried  off  a  number  of 
lads,  who  were  pasturing  cattle.  The  Iroquois  were 
pursued  and  the  lads  brought  back,  except  one, 
whom  they  had  killed,  because  he  could  not  keep  up 
with  them. 

Another  party,  who  came  to  the  island  of  Orleans. 

LOU.  I.  17 


»    .1 


130 


CHAPTER 


[1691 


Fi'    1 


I'M 


1-  "  I 


I,; 


lit  ^i! 


ii  i 


was  attacked  by  a  farmer,  of  the  name  of  '^olumbet, 
who  collected  tweuty-tive  o(  his  neighbours.  He  was 
killed,  with  a  few  of  his  followers ;  but  the  Iroquois 
were  repelled  and  left  twenty-tive  ol  their  men  on  the 
field  of  battle. 

A  third  made  about  thirty  prisoners,  men,  women 
and  children:  they  were  followed,  but  the  purbuit 
proved  a  fatal  one  to  them,  as  the  Indians,  unable  to 
escape  with  their  captives,  mnssacred  them  all. 

The  French  had  no  navul  force  in  North  America. 
The  English  colonies  supplied  the  mother  country 
with  one;  and  Sir  William  Phipps, sailing  from  Bos- 
ton'with  a  small  fleet,  on  the  twenty-second  of  May, 
took  Port  Royal,  in  Acadie,  and  soon  after  the  other 
ports  of  that  colony.  Thence  he  proceeded  to  the 
island  of  New  Foundland,  where  he  pillaged  the  porl 
of  Plaisance. 

On  the  sixteenth  of  June,  his  fleet,  now  consisting 
ofthirty-four  sail,  cast  anchor  below  Quebec,  and  he 
summoned  the  Count  de  Frontenac  to  surrender.  On 
receiving  a  resolute  answer,  Sir  William  approached 
the  city, and  the  fort  began  a  fierce  cannonade:  the 
flag-staflfof  his  ship  was  broken  by  a  shot,  and  a  Ca- 
nadian boldly  committed  himself  to  the  waves  to  take 
it:  he  succeeded,  notwithstanding  the  brisk  fire  of 
the  musketry,  and  the  flag  was  triumphantly  carried 
to  the  cathedral,  where  it  was  deposited  as  a  trophy. 
On  the  eighteenth,  fifteen  hundred  men  landed,  and 
were  repulsed  with  the  loss  of  three  hundred.  On 
the  next  day,  the  shipping  drew  near  and  cannonaded 
the  lower  town;  but  the  fire  from  the  castle  soon 
compelled  them  to  retire  in  some  confusion.  On  the 
twentieth,  a  larger  body  was  landed  than  before,  at 
some  distance  below  the  city:  they  boldly  advanced 
towards  it;  but  the  count  sallied  forth,  with  all  his 
force,  and  repulsed  them.      They  retreated  to  the 


Hi 


iboij 


THE  SIXTH. 


IJl 


[1691 

)]umbet, 
He  was 

Iroquois 
!ii  oil  the 

,  women 
puibuit 
iiiable  to 
II. 

iLmerica. 
country 
ora  Bos- 
of  May, 
le  other 
(1  to  the 
the  porl 

insisting 

;,  and  he 

Jer.    On 

roached 

ide:  the 

id  a  Ca- 

i  to  take 

fire  of 

carried 

trophy. 

ed,  and 

3d.     On 

lonaded 

le  soon 

On  the 

[jfore,  at 

Ivauced 

i  all  his 

to  the 


pl'icc  of  their  landing,  where  the  vicinity  of  the  ship- 
.piiig  prevented  him  from  following  them.  During  the 
night,  five  pieces  of  artillery  were  landed,  and  in  the 
morning  the  enemy  advanced  with  these;  but  the 
count  coming  out,  with  a  larger  force  than  the  pre- 
ceding day,  the  English  retreated  at  first  in  tolerably 
good  order;  but  the  galling  fire  of  the  French  on  the 
rear,  and  of  their  Indinns  on  the  land  side,  soon  threw 
them  in  great  confusion:  those  who  reached  the  boats, 
embarking  and  pushing  ofl'  in  much  haste,  left  their 
companions  and  cannon  behind ;  many  of  those  were 
killed  and  the  rest  taken. 

The  fleet  now  weighed  anchor  and  drifted  down. 
They  stopped  out  of  the  reach  of  the  guns  of  the 
French,  till  an  exchange  of  prisoners  was  made — Sir 
William  having  several  on  board  of  his  Heet,  taken  in 
Acadie,  New  Foundland,  and  along  the  St.  Law- 
rence as  he  ascended  it. 

He  had  expected  that  while  he  was  attacking  Que- 
bec, a  number  of  Iroquois,  swelled  and  directed  by 
some  of  his  countrymen  from  Albany, would  enter  the 
island  of  Montreal  and  fall  on  the  town :  thus  creating 
a  necessity  for  the  division  of  the  forces  of  the  colony, 
which  would  ensure  the  fall  of  Quebec,  and  finally 
enable  him  to  make  himself  master  of  the  whole 
province.  But  the  English  did  not  find  among  the  Iro- 
quois all  the  warriors  they  expected  to  join.  The 
garrison  of  the  upper  fort  had  been  reinforced  and 
well  supplied  with  arms  and  ammunition,  and  an  at- 
tack being  expected  above,  rather  than  below,  the 
militia  were  able  to  disperse  the  parties  of  the  Iro- 
quois, who  approached. 

Louis  the  fourteenth  caused  a  medal  to  be  struck 
in  commemoration  of  this  negative  victory ;  which  is 
believed  to  be  the  first  event,  in  the  history  of  Ame- 
rica, of  which  there  is  a  numismatic  record.  The 
inscription  on  the  medal  is,  Francia  in  novo  orbc  victrit. 


v:i| 


I,  ,- 


'k 


^». 


I 


I*  ! 


11 


Blf: 


m 


t32 


CHAPTER 


tl692 


In  the  fall,  the  scarcity  of  provisions  was  ex- 
treme. The  alarm,  in  which  the  country  liad  been 
in  the  spring  and  the  beginning  of  the  summer,  had 
drawn  most  of  the  people  from  their  farms  during 
seed  time ;  and  allhough  a  small  tleet  of  merchant 
vessels,  which  entered  the  river  while  the  English 
were  attacking  Quebec,  found  a  shelter,  till  after 
their  departure,  up  the  Saguenay,  the  supply  they 
brought  in  afforded  but  a  temporary  relief  and  was 
soon  exhausted.  The  famine  was  most  severely  felt 
in  the  capital :  the  troops  were  sent  in  small  detach- 
ments in  every  parish,  and  the  men  scattered  among 
such  farmers,  as  could  best  afford  them  subsistence. 
They  were  all  very  cheerfully  received. 

The  Iroquois  came  down  in  great  numbers  the 
following  spring.  A  body  of  upwards  of  one  thou- 
sand encamped  near  the  island  of  Montreal :  a  de- 
tachment of  one  hundred  arid  twenty  was  sent  nor- 
therly, and  one  of  two  hundred  southerly.  The  first 
fell  on  the  settlements  of  the  Pointe  aux  trembles^ 
where  they  burnt  upwards  of  thirty  houses  and  made 
several  prisoners,  whom  they  treated  with  extreme 
cruelty.  The  other,  among  whom  were  about  twen- 
ty Englis'  men,  went  towards  Chambly,  where  they 
laid  all  the  plantations  waste,  capturing  men,  women 
and  children.  Several  other  parties  went  in  various 
directions :  all  carrying  desolation  before  them.  The 
colonists  could  not  keep  any  large  force  together, 
owing  to  the  improbability  of  finding  subsistence. 
Small  bodies,  however,  kept  the  field,  and  scoured 
the  country  with  so  much  success,  that  the  foe  was 
compelled  to  retreat. 

A  victualling  convoy,  which  arrived  during  the 
summer,  enabled  the  Canadians  to  wait  for  the  sea- 
son of  reaping. 

The  Chevalier  de  Villebon,  appointed  governor 
of  Acadie,  arrived  at  Port  Royal  in  November :  find* 


M 


[1692 

as  ex- 
d  been 
?r,  had 
during 
>rchant 
Rnglish 
11  after 
)ly  they 
ind  was 
rely  felt 
detach- 
I  among 
iislence. 

3ers  the 
le  thou- 
l:  a  de- 
ent  nor- 
rhe  first 
trembles^ 
nd  made 
extreme 
ut  twen- 
ere  they 
,  women 
1  various 
^m.  The 
ogether, 
sisteiice. 
scoured 
foe  was 

ring  the 
the  sea- 

rovernor 
\er :  find- 


1694) 


THE  SIXTH. 


13i 


ing  no  English  force  there,  he  called  the  inhabitants 
together,  and,  hoisting  the  white  flag,  took  quiet  and 
formal  possession  of  the  country. 

Canada  was  greatly  disturbed  in  the  following 
year  by  the  Iroquois :  the  French  had  several  skir- 
mishes witli  large  parties  of  these  Indians ;  but  no 
decisive  action  took  place. 

In  the  latter  part,  a  French  fleet  under  the  orders 
of  Du  Palais,  came  on  the  Canadian  sea.  The  Eng- 
lish attacked  Plaisance,  in  the  island  of  New  Found- 
land  without  success  :  and  the  government  of  Massa- 
chusetts was  equally  unfortunate  in  an  attempt 
against  Villebon  in  Acadie. 

In  1693,  king  William  determined  to  indulge  the 
peopleof  New  England  and  New  Yoflc,  with  a  second 
effort  to  reduce  Quebec — the  frontier  settlements 
of  these  provinces  being  incessantly  harrassed  by 
irruptions  of  the  Indians  allied  wilh  France,  often 
directed  by  the  white  people ;  but  an  attack  on  Mar- 
tinique was  the  previous  object  of  the  naval  and  land 
forces  destined  against  Canada.  A  contagious  fever 
broke  out  in  the  fleet,  while  it  was  in  the  West  Indies, 
and  by  the  time  the  ships  reached  North  America, 
had  swept  away  upwards  of  three  thousand  soldiers 
and  sailors.  This  disaster  prevented  any  hostility 
against  Canada  or  Acadie.  Fort  St.  Anne,  in  the 
bay  of  Hudson,  was  taken  by  the  English. 

Iberville  wa^  in  the  following  year,  sent  thither 
with  two  ships,  and  a  small  land  force.  The  Eng- 
lish had  a  garrison  of  fifty  men  only,  in  Fort  Nelson. 
There  was  no  military  officer  commanding  there ; 
but,  they  were  under  the  orders  of  a  factor  of  the 
company ;  he  made  no  resistance.  On  its  being  re- 
duced, its  name  was  changed  to  Fort  Bourbon ;  Iber- 
ville wintered  there.  The  scurvy  made  a  great 
havoc  among  his  people.    In  the  summer  he  leA  the 


i-,  -vr 


"I 


■-:)^:i 


I'- 


134 


criAPTKR 


IIC'JH 


I  !  Ir 


n  ^ 


II 


pi 


|t.^     ! 


!!^ 


command  to  Lasaut,  to  whom  he  gave  Mariisrny,  as  his 
lieutenant,  with  a  garrison  of  sixty  CanadifMis  and 
some  Indians.  He  brought  away  a  very  considerable 
quantity  of  furs  and  peltries,  collected  from  the 
natives. 

In  Canada,  the  Count  de  Frontenac,  contrary  to 
the  representations  of  the  Intendant,  the  advice  of 
his  military  officers,  and  the  directions  of  the  Minis- 
ter, took  upon  himself  to  rebuild  the  fort  at  Cata- 
rocoui.  He  went  up,  with  seven  hundred  men  for 
this  purpose.  It  was  in  vain  objected  to  him,  that 
this  force,  and  the  funds  that  were  I  bus  to  be  em- 
ployed, might  be  more  usefully  used  in  an  offensive 
expedition  against  the  Iroquois,  who  contiriued  to 
annoy  the  distant  settlements.  He  left  in  it  a  garrison 
of  fifty-eight  men. 

In  the  fall,  the  Count  and  the  Intendant  recom- 
mended to  the  Minister,  to  send  ten  or  twelve  ships 
of  the  line  against  an  English  fleet  that  was  expected 
in  the  Canadian  sea,  and  to  attempt  the  reduction 
of  Boston.  They  represented  that  town  as  carrying 
on  a  considerable  trade,  and  assured  him  its  falling 
into  the  hands  of  the  French  would  ensure  the  fishe- 
ries exclusively  to  them.  The  king's  council,  how- 
ever, determined  on  confining  the  operations  of  the 
next  campaign  in  America,  to  driving  the  English 
from  the  places  they  occupied  in  New  Foundland, 
and  the  fort  of  Penkuit,  from  which  they  continued  to 
harrass  the  settlements  in  Acadie,  and  which,  being 
in  the  immediate  neighbourhood  of  the  Abenaquis, 
gave  the  people  of  New  England,  a  great  oppor- 
tunity of  subduing  these  Indians,  or  at  least  of  seduc- 
ing them  from  their  alliance  with,  and  dependence  on 
the  French  crown. 

Accordingly,  in  the  next  summer,  Iberville  arrived 
with  two  ships,  on  the  coast  of  Acadie,  and  on  the 


['■f 


;j 


IC'JH 

shis 

and 

able 

the 

ry  to 
ce  of 
linia- 
Cata- 
in  for 
1,  that 
e  em- 
3nsive 
led  to 
trrition 

•ecom- 
3  ships 
peeled 
luction 
ptrryiug 
falling 
;  fishe- 
,  how- 
of  the 
nglish 
dland, 
uedto 
being 
laquis, 
oppor- 
seduc- 
>nce  on 

irrived 
on  the 


1G05J 


THE  SIXTH. 


135 


third  of  July,  met  with  three  ships  of  war  of  the  ene- 
my; one  of  which,  the  Newport  of  sixty  guns, 
he  captured:  a  heavy  fog,  that  rose  during  the  en- 
gagement, favoured  the  escape  of  the  other  two. 
Having  taken  fifty  Indians  on  board  at  Beaubassin, 
he  proceeded  to  Pentagoet,  where  the  Baron  of  St. 
Castin,  had  marched  with  twenty-five  soldiers  and 
two  hundred  and  fifty  Indians.  On  the  fifteenth,  the 
Baron,  having  raised  two  batteries,  sent  a  summons 
to  the  Commandant,  representing  the  land  and  naval 
forces,  ready  to  co-operate  against  him,  as  too  large 
to  admit  of  a  successful  resistance.  The  English- 
man replied,  that  if  the  sea  was  covered  with  French 
ships,  and  the  country  around  with  French  soldiers, 
he  would  not  think  of  surrendering  the  fort,  as  long 
as  he  had  a  gun  to  fire.  On  this,  a  cannonade  be- 
gan, from  the  batteries  and  shipping.  Iberville 
landed  during  the  night  and  erected  a  bomb  battery. 
On  the  next  day,  fire  bombs,  thrown  into  the  fort, 
appeared  to  create  confusion :  the  Baron  now  sent 
word  that,  if  the  besieged  waited  for  the  assault,  they 
would  have  his  Indians  to  deal  with,  whom  it  might 
possibly  be  out  of  his  power  to  control.  This  threat 
had  its  effect,  and  the  fort  capitulated. 

Iberville,  after  this,  sailed  for  New  Foundland. 
An  English  fleet  still  hovered  on  the  coast  of  Acadie : 
its  commander,  having  landed  four  or  five  hundred 
men  at  Beaubassin,  was  shown  by  the  inhabitants 
an  instrument  of  writing,  left  with  them  by  Sir  Wil- 
liam Phipps,  declaring  that,  as  they  had  submitted 
to  the  forces  of  William  and  Mary,  he  had  taken 
them  under  his  sovereign's  protection.  They 
were  answered,  they  should  in  no  manner  be  injured. 
Orders  were  accordingly  given  to  the  soldiers,  who 
were  prohibited  from  taking  any  thing,  except  such 
cattle  as  iniffht  be  needed  for  the  fleet ;    for  which, 


14' 


136 


CHAPTER 


[169j 


I' 


if 


i   n 


payment  was  promised.  The  commodore  walked 
with  the  inhabitants,  who  had  waited  on  him,  to  the 
house  of  one  Bourgeois,  where  he  and  his  officers 
were  entertained,  and  where  the  most  respectable 
inhabitants  came  to  visit  him.  The  soldiers,  how- 
ever, went  pibout  pillaging,  and  treating  the  Acadians 
a«  a  conquered  people,  and  when  complaints  were 
made  to  the  chief,  he  did  not  restrain  ihem.  Walk- 
ing out  accidentally,  towards  the  church,  he  noticed 
a  paper  stuck  on  the  door,  subscribed  by  Count  de 
Frontenac.  It  contained  regulations,  resp<?cting  the 
traffic  with  the  Indians.  Pretendiiig  to  be  much  irri- 
tated at  this  discovery,  he  charged  the  inhubitiuits 
with  a  breach  of  their  sworn  neutrality,  ordered  the 
church  to  be  set  on  fire,  and  authorised  his  soldiers 
to  continue  the  pillage.  The  plantations  were  laid 
waste,  and  most  of  the  houses  burnt.  The  forces 
being  re-embarked,  the  fleet  went  to  the  river  St. 
John,  where  an  unsuccessful  attack  was  made  on  the 
fort. 

In  the  meanwhile,  Iberville  went  to  New  Found- 
land,  where  he  had  considerable  success,  and  took 
the  Fort  of  St.  John.  He  was  preparing  to  drive  the 
English  from  the  two  only  places  which  they  held  in 
that  island,  when  he  received  orders  to  sail  for  the 
bay  of  Hudson,  with  four  ships  which  arrived  from 
France.  The  English  had  captured  Fort  Bourbon, 
in  that  bay.  He  lost  one  of  his  ships  in  the  ice,  and 
a  storm  separated  two  of  the  others  fiom  him.  The 
ship  he  was  in  was  drove  ashore  in  another  gale :  but 
the  two  who  had  disappeared,  joining  the  one  he 
had  left,  he  gave  battle  to  some  English  ships,  which 
he  found  in  the  bay.  He  sunk  one  of  them  and  took 
another ;  the  third  escaped — and  towards  the  middle 
of  September  he  re-capiured  Fort  Bourbon. 

The  peace  of  Riswick,  in  the  meanwhile,  put  an 


SJ} 


lODft] 


TKE  SIXTH. 


187 


'i'i 


end  ((»  hostilities.  On  the  twentieth  ol"  September, 
Louis  the  Iburteorith  acknowle^ed  Wilhaui  llie  third. 
kin^ot'Kn^liiiid,  and  th<t  two  nionurchs  agreed  mutu- 
ally to  restore  to  each  other,  all  conquests  made 
during  the  war,  and  to  appoint  <  ommissioners  to  ex- 
amine and  determine  the  rights  and  pretentions  of 
eacfi  to  the  places  situated  in  Hudson's  Bay. 

In  the  lollowing  year.  Count  de  Frontenac  died, 
and  was  succeeded,  in  the  government-general  ol* 
New  France,  by  the  Chevalier  de  Callieres. 

At  this  ppriod,  the  population  of  New  France  did 
not  exceed  sixteen  thousand  ;  that  of  Canada  being 
thirteen,  and  that  of  Acadie  three  thousand. 

We  have  seen  that,  before  the  accession  of  the 
Bourbons  and  the  Stuarts,  in  the  early  part  of  the 
seventeenth  century,  all  the  etForts  of  F^ ranee  and 
England,  towards  colonization  in  the  western  hemis- 
phere had  proved  abortive.  The  progress  of  these 
nations,  under  the  princes  of  those  houses,  were 
simultaneous,  but  unequal,  both  in  the  means  em- 
ployed and  the  result.  Vast  were  those  of  France : 
exiguous  those  of  England.  Yet  the  population  of 
the  colonies  of  the  latter,  was  sixteen  times  that  of 
those  of  the  former:  it  exceeded  two  hundred  and 
sixty  thousand. 

Judge  Marshal  has  shown,  in  his  history  of  the 
colonies  planted  by  the  English  in  Nortli  America, 
how  immense  and  rapid  are  the  advances  of  a  com- 
munity, allowed  to  manage  its  own  concerns,  unaid- 
ed, and  even  checked  at  times,  by  a  distant  admin- 
istration. Seqiiar^  scd  hand pcissibus  equis.  Mine  shall 
be  the  humble  task  to  show  how  small  and  tardy  are 
those  advances  in  a  colony,  absolutely  guided  by  the 
mother  country,  notwithstanding  the  great  assistance 
the  latter  may  afford  to  tlie  former. 

About  three-fourths  of  a  century,  after  Henry  the 

r,ou.  I.  ifi 


i  I' 


li'ii 


138 


CHAPTER 


[IGOr 


fourth  laid  the  foundation  of  Quehrc,  VVilliaiii  Penn, 
an  individual  of  the  English  nation,  cut  down  the  first 
tree,  on  the  spot  which  Philadelphia  now  covers, 
and  in  ahout  twelve  years  after,  the  quakor,  by  his 
unaided  exertions,  had  collected  twenty  thousand 
persons  around  his  city :  one-fourth  more  than  the 
efforts  of  three  successive  monarchs  of  France,  com- 
manding the  resources  of  that  mighty  kingdom,  and 
employing  several  ships  of  the  royal  navy  in  the 
transportation  of  soldiers  arid  colonists,  had  been  abl^ 
to  unite  in  New  France. 


w   '■ 


(> 


f- 


N| 


Charlevoir. 


f;1 


ir.fr/i 


THE  SRVENTIf. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


iMX 


Iberville's  offers  to  plant  a  French  colony  in  Louisiana  are 
accepted. — jjn  expedition  is  prepared^  sails  from  La 
Rochdle^  and  touches  at  Hispaniola. — Amres  de  la 
Riolle. — Pensacola. — Massacre^  Horn^  Ship^  Chan- 
dcleur  and  Cat  Islands. — j}  settlement  be^un  on  Ship 
Island. — Bay  of  Pascagoula. — Biloxi  and  Bayagoula 
Indians. — Iberville  and  Bienville  enter  and  ascend  the 
Mississippi. — Fork  of  Chetimachas. —  Washas. — Plu' 
queinines. — Bayou  Munchac. — Oiimas. —  Point  Cou- 
pee.— Portage  de  la  Croix. — Lakes  Maurppas  and 
Pontchartrain. — Bay  of  St.  Louis. — A  fort  built  on  the 
Bay  of  Biloxi. — Iberville  leaves  Sauvolle  in  command 
and  sails  for  France  — Scotch  colony  at  Darien. — Sau- 
voile  sends  a  small  vessel  to  Hispaniola  for  provisions. — 
Colapissas. — Chickasaws. — Missionaries  among  the 
Yazoos  and  Tunicas. — Mobile  and  Thome  Indians 
visit  Sauvolle. — English  Turn. — French  Protestants. — 
Return  of  Iberville. — Boisbriant. — St.  Denys. — Mal- 
ton. — A  fort  built  on  the  Mississippi. — The  Chevalier 
de  Tonti. — The  JVatchez  and  Taensas. — St.  Come. — 
Rosalie. —  Yatassees. — Protest  of  the  Governor  of  Pen- 
sacola. —  Washitas. — Red  River. — Iberville  sails  for 
Frande. — Philip  V. —  War  of  the  Spanish  succession.-^ 
St.  Peter  and  Green  Rivers. — Fort  Thnillier. — Sagan. 
Sauvolle  dies. — Choctaws,  Chickasaws  and  Alibamons. 
— Return    of  Iberville — Head    Quarters   removed  ie 

Mobile. — Dauphine    Island. Iberville    departs    for 

France. — Queen  Anne. — Declaration  of  War. — Irrup- 
tion from  Canada  into  Massachusetts  and  JVew  Hamp- 
shire.— Attack  of  St.  Augustine. —  Wabash. — Apala- 
chian  Indians. — Bienville  chastises  the  Alibamons. — 
Recruits. — Grey  Sisters. — Fire  at  Biloxi. — Disease. — 


'4,1 


Ml 

'-'I 
"ill 


MM  ,   ' 


/ 


■\'\K} 


t'iiAi"n;ii 


fl()01! 


\-\\ 


ill 

.'i 


\W 


Drslrurfinn  of  fhr.   Frmrk  srlllrment  on  the  Jl'dhash. — 
Ckifk'dsmcs  and  (liorditrs. — (.'kcinhrrs. — Illinois. —  l\t- 

(lirr   (irdtiot. —  nin/tii^oulos. Unions. — ..Irhttnsfts. — 

Ibrrrillcs  t/rnfli. —  'Dinini.s.  —  'l\irns<is. — .'Utuih  on  l^rn- 

savola. —  Tonachas. — ,'lhikus. .  ili'ionums. — jinothrr 

affftrk  on  l^cnsoroht. — Irninfion  Jr  m  (Jannda  into 
jyfttsai'kiisrt/s. — (irnrfdl  .JVirhol  on. — Dr  Jlfuifs  m  d 
f)iron  l)\  hijt^nrltc. —  Th"  ICni.fli.sli  lake  l^ort  lioijid 
in.hadir. —  The  srfflrnKiit.  on  Alohilr  lUrff  rcntoral 
hii^lirr  np. —  V'Ay"  Chirk- isanis  clttvk  ike  (  liorlairs. — 
Fidlnrc.  of  the  hln^lisli  in  an  nlhinfit  a^ain'<l  (^nrljrr  nnd 

JMon  'rail. — Iai    Villc-  I'oiiiin. — ,inlhohii    Lrozal, 

Peace  oj  Utralil. 

LOinS  the  (onil<'(Mitli  seonifl  to  lirivo  lost  sii^lit 
of  liouisiaiia,  in  the  prosccntioti  ol  tho  war,  vvlii(;h 
Iho  treaty  of  Uisuick  tcM'tninaU'd.  VVr*  have  soon 
that  Tiasallc  liad  lost  his  life,  io  iho  alicriipt  to  plant 
a  French  colony  on  the  Mississippi. 

Iherville,  on  his  retnrn  from  Hiidson's  !5ay.  flatt(M'- 
in^  himself  with  the  hope  of  better  sneerss.  otlered 
to  prosecute  Lasalle's  plan,  and  was  patronised  hy 
the  ('ount  dc  Pontchartrain,  tlie  Minister  of  the  ma- 
rine, who  ordered  an  expedition  to  be  prepared  at 
La  Rochelle. 

Two  frigates  of  thirty  guns  each,  and  two  smaller 
vessels  were  employed  in  this  service.  The  com- 
mand of  one  of  the  frigates  and  of  the  armament  was 
given  to  Iberville,  and  that  of  the  other  to  the  Count 
de  Sugeres.  A  company  of  marilies  and  about  two 
hundred  settlers,  includirig  a  lew  women  and  children 
embarked.  Mostof  the  men  were  Canadians.who  had 
enlisted  in  the  troops  sent  over  from  France  during 
the  war,  and  were  disbanded  at  trie  peace. 

This  small  llect  sailed  on  the  twejity  lourth  of  Sep- 
tember. ItiOH.  for  Cape  Francois,  in  the  island  of  J^t. 


ie:)!»| 


TiiK  si:vi:\'ni 


t»4 


huiiiin^o,  \vh<'r('  it  arrivrd  iil'trr  a  pnHHii^c  ol'scvcnty- 
Iwod.ivs.  II(M<'  il  w.is  joiiH'd  \ty  a  filly  j;im  sliip, 
coMiiiMiKicil  \ty  (  Il  itr.'iiiinoriuit.  Lciiviii^  (lie  v..\\Hi 
oil  Nrw-"^  ear's  day,  llic  hIiiiis  cast  anchor  on  llic 
t\\<'i'ly  liltli  r)r.laiiiiary.  iH'fore  tlie  island,  which  now 
hears  llic  nameoi:  i,  |{ose. 

Ilu'rville  seiil  :  hoat  (o  ihe  main,  wliere  Don 
Aiidi<'s  de  la  lliolle  had  a  short  lime  hel'ore  i(»d 
three  liniidrj'd  Sj»aiiiards.  on  llie  spot  on  which,  in 
the  lime  of  Soto,  lay  (he  Indian  town  of  AiichiiHi,  and 
now  stands  {\iv  town  ol  Pensacola.  '^Pwo  ships  of 
his  nation  w<'im'  at  anchor  under  (he  prot<'ction  ofji 
battery  tha(  hid  jiis(  heen  erec(ed. 

Don  Andie«^  re{!eiv<'d  the  otlicer  in  (he  hoat  with 
civility;  hut  as  his  naval  force  was  much  inferior  to 
that  of  (he  Krenc'h,  declined  permiKiiif^  Iherville  to 
briiifif  in  his  ships.  Ihey  proceeded  northerly  to 
another  island,  not  very  distant,  to  which  from  a  heap 
of  human  hones,  near  the  heach,  the  name  of  Mas- 
sacre Island  was  given.  It  is  now  known  as  Danphine 
Island. 

bailing  afterwards  farther  on,  they  entered  a  pass 
between  two  islands,  which  received  the  names  of 
Horn  and  Ship  Islands  ;  but  being  stopped  by  the 
shallowness  of  the  water,  they  came  out,  and  shaping 
their  course  southwesterly, reached  two  other  islands, 
now  known  as  those  of  the  Chandeleur,  either  from 
the  circumstance  of  their  having  been  Hrst  approach- 
ed on  the  second  of  February,  Candlemas  day,  or 
from  their  })eing  covered  with  the  myrtle  shrub,  from 
the  wax  of  tlie  berries  of  which  the  first  colonists 
made  their  candles.  The  anchor  was  cast  here,  and 
the  pass  between  Ship  Island,  and  another  called  Cat 
Island,  (from  a  number  of  these  animals  found  on  it) 
was  sounded,  and  the  smaller  vessels  entered  through 
it.     The  fifty  gun  ship  now  returned  to  St.  Domingo; 


1  J 

V 

,'hii 

M 

-'] 

,  1 

«.l 

1        '5 

•  r 

H  .^■■i  (■ 


■  ,  i 

yy 

n 

t    '^ 

•  ' 

■4-' 

r 

:  Li 
i  i ' 

'■  1; 

'  \ 

:J« 

H 

M      jiji 
|t|i 

if 


I4« 


OHAPTER 


[169!^ 


'I 


.11 


and  the  two  frigates  remained  before  6ne  of  the 
Chandeleur  islauds. 

Iberville  went  with  most  of  his  people  to  Ship 
island,  where  they  began  to  erect  huts.  He  sent  two 
boats  to  the  main.  They  entered  the  bay  of  Pasca- 
goula,  where  they  discovered  a  number  of  Indians, 
who  fled  at  their  approach  and  were  pursued  in  vain. 
On  the  next  day  a  boat  was  again  sent  on  shore.  On 
the  landing  of  the  French,  the  natives  ran  away  as 
before;  but  a  woman,  lagging  behind, was  caught, 
and  was  so  much  pleased  at  the  behaviour  ol  the 
strangers,  that  she  went  and  induced  her  countrymen 
to  meet  them.  Four  of  these  Indians  were  persuaded 
to  go  on  board ;  Bienville,  a  brother  of  Iberville,  who 
commanded  the  boat,  remaining  in  the  meanwhile, 
as  an  hostage,  with  the  rest.  After  spending  some 
time  in  the  vessel,  they  returned,  much  gratified  with 
their  courteous  reception,  and  a  lew  presents  that 
were  made  them.  For  want  of  an  interpreter,  no 
other  information  could  be  obtained  from  them,  ex- 
cept that  they  were  of  the  Biloxi  tribe. 

On  the  following  day,  another  party  of  Indians  pas- 
sed by.  The  same  circumstance  prevented  any 
knowledge  being  obtain'^d  from  them,  except  that 
they  were  Bayagoulas,  that  their  tribe  dwelt  on  the 
bank  of  a  very  large  river,  a  little  to  the  west,  and 
that  they  w  ere  out  on  a  war  expedition  against  the 
Mobilians,  who  dwelt  on  a  smaller  stream,  not  far 
to  the  east. 

On  the  twenty-seventh  of  February,  Iberville  and 
Bienville,  each  in  a  barge  well  manned,  went  in  quest 
of  the  Mississippi.  They  were  attended  by  father 
Athanase,  a  recoUet  monk,  who  had  accompanied 
the  unfortunate  Lasalle,  both  in  his  descent  of  that 
river,  and  on  his  last  voyage  from  France.  The 
third  day,  they  entered  a  wide  stream,  whicii,  from 


f  the 

Ship 
it  two 
•asca- 
diaiis, 
I  vain. 
.    On 
vay  as 
aught, 
A   the 
rymen 
uaded 
e,  who 
jwhile, 
'  some 
;d  with 
ts  that 
tcr,  no 
em,  ex- 

ns  pas- 
id  any 
3t  tliat 
on  the 
st,  and 
nst  the 
not  far 

lie  and 
n  quest 
father 
ipanied 
of  that 
The 
from 


/G99J 


THE  SEVENTH 


U'6 


the  turbidness  of  its  waters,  the  friar  justly  concluded 
was  the  mighty  river. 

Having  ascended  it,  according  to  their  reckoning 
about  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles,  on  the  fifth 
day  after  they  entered  it,  they  discovered  a  party  of 
Indians,  who,  on  perceiving  the  barges,  sought  their 
»alety  in  flight.  One  of  them,  however,  soon  turned, 
and  fearlessly  awaited  the  approach  of  the  strangers. 
His  good  will  having  been  secured  by  a  present,  he 
went  and  brought  back  his  companions.  It  was  un- 
derstood from  them,  that  they  were  of  the  Bayagoula 
tribe.  One  of  them  was  easily  prevailed  upon  to  get 
into  Iberville's  barge  and  accompany  the  French. 

A  tiew  days  after,  the  French  overtook  at  the  fork 
of  the  Chetimachas,  a  party  of  the  Warshas,  and  two 
days  after,  reached  a  village  of  the  Bayagoulas. 

Here  they  were  shown  some  capots,  or  great  coats, 
made  of  blankets,  left  there  by  some  of  Lasalle's  com- 
panions. They  were  treated  with  great  hospitality. 
The  Indians  supphed  their  guests  with  a  few  fowlsj 
giving  them  to  understand  they  proceeded  from 
others,  which  they  had  received  from  a  tribe  of  In- 
dians (the  Attakapas)  dwelling  northerly,  near  the 
sea;  a  vessel  having  been  cast  ashore  there,  from 
which  a  few  of  these  animals  came  out. 

Iberville  was  still  apprehensive  that  father  Atha- 
nase  was  mistaken,  and  the  river  he  was  on  was  not 
the  Mississippi,  until  the  natives  produced  a  pray- 
er book,  in  which  the  name  of  one  of  Lasalle's  men 
was  written,  and  at  last,  a  letter  from  the  Chevalier 
de  Tonti,  bearing  date  from  the  village  of  the  Quin- 
ipissas,  the  twentieth  of  April,  168.5.  The  chevalier 
lamented  his  being  obliged  to  return,  without  having 
met  his  chief,  whose  departure  from  France  with  the 
intention  of  settling  a  French  colony  on  the  banks  of 
the  Mississippi,  he  had  learned  from  Canada.     He 


^PFi 

WM 

'  'li 

i 


i  ■■-! 


\^\ 


f44 


CHAPTER 


169f* 


m^a'SEKKinV ' 

'11 

observed  fie  had  descended  the  stream,  as  lar  as  the 
sea,  with  twenty  Canadians  and  thirty  liidiuns.  Iher- 
ville  was  also  shown  a  coat  ol'  niiiil,  with  doubk- 
mashes  of  wire.  From  the  accounts  the  Indians  ^ave 
of'the  lejigth  oftime  tliis  piece  of  armour  had  been 
among  them,  Iberville  guessed  it  to  have  belonged  to 
one  oi'the  Spaniards  who  accompanied  Soto. 

Having  left  another  (brk  of  the  Mississippi,  (now 
known  as  the  l^ayou  Plaquemines)  on  the  left  hand, 
they  soon  came  to  another  outlet  of  the  river,  on  its 
opposite  side,  which  separated  the  land  of  the  Bay- 
agoulas,  from  that  of  the  Oumas.  Jt  is  now  called 
Bayou  Manchac. 

Several  days  afterwards  Ihey  came  to  a  place 
where  the  river  made  a  considerable  bend.  Iberville, 
perceiving  a  large  outlet,  Criused  a  number  of  trees 
that  obstructed  it  to  be  cut  down,  and  the  barges 
were  drawn  through.  The  Mississippi  afterwards 
so  widened  the  outlet,  that  in  time,  the  former  bed  of 
the  river  being  much  obstructed  by  trees,  the  stream 
altered  its  course,  and  the  outlet  became  its  bed. 
The  place  was  hence  called  Point  Coupee. 

They  afterwards  came  to  another  considerable 
bend  thro'  which  the  natives  made  a  portage,  and  had 
cut  a  road — the  isthmus  was  but  a  few  yards  in  width  ; 
the  French  gave  it  the  name  of  the  Portage  de  la 
Croix,  from  the  circumstance  of  their  having  erect- 
ed there  a  cross,  in  token  of  having  proceeded  so  far 
up  the  river,  and  of  having  taken  possession  ol  it.  It 
is  believed  that  this  is  the  great  bend  of  the  Missis- 
sippi opposite  the  mouth  ol"  Ked  River.  The  Oumas 
Indians  had  a  considerable  vill-jge  near  this  spot. 
The  French  repaired  to  it  and  were  hospitably  re- 
ceived. 

Iberville  now  retrogaded,  and  the  barges  having 
floated  back   as  far  as   Bayou  Manchac,  Bienville 


«el( 


,j| 


1699 


THE  SEVENTH 


140 


proceeded  down  the  river  to  the  sea,  and  Iberville 
entered  the  s;nall  stream  and  proceeded,  through  two 
lakes,  to  which  he  gave  tfie  names  of  Maurepas  and 
Pontchartruin,  to  a  bay  which  he  called  St.  Louis,  and 
reached  his  shipping.  Bienville  arrived  shortly  af- 
terwards. 

It  was  now  determined  to  fix  the  principal  estab- 
lishment of  the  colony  at  the  eastern  extremity  of  a 
bay.  which,  from  thelndians  dwelling  nearit,  was  call- 
ed the  bay  of  Biloxi ;  it  lies  between  the  bay  of  Pen- 
cagonda  and  that  of  St.  Louis.  A  fort  with  four  bas- 
tions, was  immediately  begun,  and  completed  on 
the  first  of  May  Twelve  pieces  of  cannon  were  pla- 
ced in  it,  and  the  command  given  to  Sauvolle,  a  bro- 
ther of  Iberville;  and  Bienville,  their  younger  brother, 
was  appointed  his  lieutenant.  The  colonists  settled 
around  it,  and  Iberville  and  the  Count  de  Sugeres 
sailed  for  F' ranee  in  the  frigates,  on  the  ninth,  leaving 
the  two  small  vessels  for  the  service  of  the  colony. 

In  the  mean  while,  the  Scotch  had  made  an  unsuc- 
cessful attempt  to  plant  a  colony,  near  the  isthmus  of 
Panama.  King  William  had  given  his  assent  to  an 
act 'of  the  parliament  of  Scotland,  incorporating  a 
company  to  carry  on  trade  in  Africa  and  the  Indies; 
and  the  association  equipper^  three  ships  and  two  ten- 
ders, on  which  were  embarked  on«'  thousand  colo- 
nists. 

This  fleet  cast  anchor  near  Cape  Tiberon,  in  lati- 
tude 8. 40.  N.  on  the  secondof  November  of  the  prece- 
ding year;  the  Indians  received  the  adventurers  with 
cordiality,  and  led  their  ships  to  a  bay  within  Golden 
Island,  about  dve  miles  wide  and  very  deep.  The 
Scotch,  having  sounded  along  the  shore,  found  a  la- 
goon on  the  south  east  side  of  the  bay,  running  up 
within  the  land  for  about  two  miles  and  a  half,  and 
selected  a  spot,  which  nature  had  rendered  easily  de- 

r.ou.  I.  19 


m 


!  1.1 


m 


I'll 


■'IH 


Ml 


I 


140 


CHAPTER 


169» 


fensible.  for  the  chief  place  of  the  colony.  They  called 
it  New  Edinburgh,  and  the  harbor  before  it,  Caledo- 
nia harbor.  They  erected  a  platlorm,  on  which  they 
placed  sixteen  gnns,  and  dignified  it  with  the  name 
of  Fort  St.  Andrews. 

The  Indians  contintied  friendly;  the  colony  was  vi- 
sited by  small  vess*  Is  from  Jamaica  and  St.  Domingo. 
It  was  several  times  harrassed  by  irruptions  of  Spani- 
ards from  the  lieighbourhigcolonies,  whom  they  always 
successfully  repelled.  In  the  spring,  however,  the 
cabinet  of  Madrid  made  loud  complaints  of  this  in- 
vasion of  the  territory  of  Spain,  and  William,  being 
averse  to  a  rupture  with  that  nation,  immediately  af- 
ter the  conclusion  of  the  war,  disowned  the  Scotch 
colony,  and  the  governors  of  Jamaica,  Barbadoes, 
New  York  and  Massachusetts  issued  proclamations, 
commanding  the  king's  suf)jects,  in  their  respective 
governments,  to  forbear  holding  any  correspondence 
Avith,  or  giving  any  aid  to  the  Scotch  colony.  Wil- 
liam was  deaf  to  the  representations  of  the  company, 
and  the  colonisls,  unable  to  repel  the  Spaniards,  and 
to  sustain  themselves  without  aid  from  home,  dispers- 
ed soon  afler. 

Sauvolle,  aller  the  departure  of  tfie  two  frigates, 
despatched  one  of  his  two  vessels  to  St.  Dominao  for 
provisions.  INolhnig  novvappenred  to  him  of  greater 
importance  than  to  secure  a  good  understanding  with 
the  Indian  tribes  near  the  fort.  For  this  purpose,  in 
the  bcginniiii;  oi"  June,  he  sent  his  young  brother  with 
a  few  Ca'iadians.  and  a  Bnyngoula  chief  as  a  guide, 
townrds  the  Colapissas,  who  dwelt  on  the  northern 
bank  of  lake  Pontchartrain.  This  tribe  had  three  hun- 
dred warriors.  On  seeing  Biesiville  approach,  the 
Colapissas  ranged  themselves  in  battle  array. 
He  stopped  and  sent  his  guide  to  inquire  into  the 
eause  of  this  hostile  appearance.     The  Colapissaip 


169» 

jr  called 
Caledo- 
ich  they 
le  name 

'  was  vi- 
omingo. 
if  Spani- 
y  always 
ver,  the 
f  this  in- 
m,  being 
iately  af- 
e  Scotch 
rbadoes, 
iniations, 
?spective 
>ondence 
ly.     Wil- 
iompany, 
aids,  and 
,  dispers- 

frigates, 
ningo  for 
)f  greater 
ling  with 
rpose,  in 
ther  with 

a  guide, 
northern 
iree  hun- 
ach,  the 
e     array. 

into  the 
olapissaip 


1699] 


THE  SEVENTH. 


147 


replied,  that  three  days  before,  two  white  men,  whom 
they  took  to  he  English  frotn  Carolina,  came  at  the 
head  of  two  Iniiidred  Chichasaus.  attacked  their  vil- 
lage and  carried  away  some  of  tlu'ir  people  into  cap- 
tivity, and  they  had  at  first  considered  Bienville  and 
his  white  comp  niions  as  EnglislnniMi.  The  Baya- 
gonla  chief  undeceived  them,  and  told  them,  that 
those  who  came  lo  visit  them  were  Prencli,  and  ene- 
mies of  the  English — that  their  object,  in  coming  to 
the  village,  was  to  solicit  the  friendship  and  alliance 
of  its  inhabitants.  The  Colapissas  laid  dovvn  their 
arms  and  received  and  entertained  the  French  with 
great  cordiality.  Bienville  made  them  a  few  presents, 
and  exchanged  with  them  promises  of  reciprocal 
friendship,  alliance  and  support. 

On  his  return  to  the  fort,  he  spent  there  but  a  few 
days,  and  sat  oflfeasterly  on  a  like  errand;  he  ascend- 
ed the  Pascagoula  river,  on  the  banks  of  which  the 
nation  who  gave  it  its  name,  the  Biloxis  and  the  Moe- 
tobies  had  villages — and  he  proceeded  as  far  as  the 
Mobilians.  Having  been  as  successful  with  these 
tribes  as  with  the  Colapissas,  and  equally  anxious  to 
live  on  good  terms  with  his  white  as  his  red  neigh- 
bours, he  paid  a  visit  to  Don  Andres  at  Pensacola. 

Ever  since  the  discovery  of  the  Mississippi  by  La- 
salle,  Canadian  huntsmen,  or  coureurs  de  bois^  strayed 
at  times  to  the  banks  of  that  river,  and  missionaries 
from  that  colony  had  been  led  by  their  zeal  to  locate 
themselves  amotig  the  Indians  on  the  Wabash,  the 
Illinois  and  other  streams  that  pay  the  tribute  of 
their  waters  to  the  Mississippi,  and  of  late  among  se- 
veral tribes  on  the  very  banks  of  that  river;  and  on  the 
first  of  July,  Sauvolle  had  the  pleasure,  which  he  lit- 
tle expected,  of  receiving  the  visits  of  two  of  these 
missionaries,  who  resided  with  the  Tensas  and  Ya- 
zou  Indians. 


"!  n 


11  ■■\^l 


'■J';ii 


.     :ti. 


;  r>i 


^1 

■  itf 


M 


'148 


CHAPTER 


[io9y 


>4 


w      '  I 


■II 


iff 


m 


]■;■' 


ill 


I 


The  holy  men,  coming  to  preach  amonpj  the  Ou- 
mas,  hatl  hnartl  of  a  French  settlement  on  the  sea 
shore;  they  floated  down  the  Mississippi  to  visit  it, 
and  reached  the  tort  tlirongh  tlie  lakes.  Their 
names  were  Montiguy  and  Davion;  the  latter  resided 
on  an  eminence,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Mississippi, 
between  the  present  towns  of  St  Fraricisville  and 
Natchez,  whi.ch  the  French  called  after  him  La 
Roche  a  Davion.  While  the  Rnglish  held  tliis  part  of 
the  country,  the  spot  was  called  fjottus'  heights. 
From  a  fort,  built  inider  the  presidency  of  John 
Adams,  it  hears  now  the  i»amc  ol  Fort  Adams.  These 
clergymen  spent  a  few  days  with  their  countrymen, 
and  returned  to  their  respective  missions. 

Parties  from  the  Mobile  and  Thome  Indians  visit- 
ed their  French  neighbours  in  the  month  of  August, 
and  the  vessel  despatched  to  St.  Domingo  on  the  de- 
parture of  Iberville,  returned  with  an  ample  supply  of 
provisions,  which  began  to  be  much  needed. 

Iberville,  on  ascending  the  Mississippi,  had  noticed 
three  outlets  ;  one  on  the  eastern  side,  and  tw  o  on  the 
western,  now  called  the  tbrk  of  the  Chetimachas,  and 
Bayou  Plaquemines.  He  had  descended  through  the 
first,  and  had  instructed  Sauvolle  to  have  the  two 
others  explored.  Perfect  tranquillity  reigning  in  the 
settlement,  Bienville  was  sent,  with  ten  Canadians  in 
two  piroiiues,  on  this  service. 

They  crossed  lakes  Pontchartrain  and  Maurepas, 
and  ascending  through  Bayou  Manchac,  reached  the 
Mississippi  and  (loated  down  to  the  fork.  Taking  al- 
ways the  western  prong,  whenever  the  stream  fork- 
ed, Bienville  fell  into  a  bayou  in  which  the  water 
failed;  visiting  several  villages  of  Indians  on  the  way, 
he  returned  to  the  Mississippi,  which  he  descended, 
and  on  the  sixteenth  of  September,  met  an  English 
ship  of  sixteen  guns.     Captain  Bar,  who  commanded 


[109tt 

g  Ou- 
e  sea 
isit  it, 
Their 
?sidecl 
ssippi, 
e   and 
im   L« 
part  of 
eights, 
f  John 
These 
rymen, 

a  visit- 
August, 
tlie  de- 
ipply  of 

noticed 
3  on  the 
las,  and 
ugh  the 
the  two 
g  in  the 
[lians  m 

Lurepas, 
lied  the 
iing  al- 
rn  fork- 
e  water 
le  way, 
cendcd, 
English 
maiided 


1699J 


THE  SEVENTH. 


i4V 


her,  informed  Bienville  he  had  left  below  another 
ship  of  his  nation  of  the  same  force;  these  shipf 
were  sent  by  Daniel  Coxe  of  New  Jersey,  who  then 
was  the  proprietor  of  the  immense  grant  of  land  from 
Charles  1.  of  England  to  Sir  Kobert  Heath,  in  1627. 
The  obj(^ct  of  captain  Bar  and  his  companion  was, 
to  sound  the  passes  of  I  he  Mississippi.  They  were 
afterwards  to  return  and  convoy  (bur  smaller  vessels, 
bringing  several  famihes,  intended  as  the  beginning 
of  an  KiigHsh  colony,  on  the  banks  of  the  river.  Capt. 
Bar  was  uncertain  whether  the  stream  he  was  explo- 
ring Avas  the  Mississippi  or  not. 

Bienville  told  him  it  wr.s  further  west,  that  the 
country  they  were  in  was  a  dependence  of  the  French 
colony  of  Canada,  and  the  French  had  a  strong  fort 
and  some  settlements  higher  up,  which  induced  Bar 
to  retrogade.  The  part  of  the  river,  in  which  Bien- 
ville met  him,  was  the  beginning  of  a  large  bend, 
where  the  ship  was  detained;  the  wind  which  brought 
her  up  ceasing,  from  the  very  great  turn  of  the  river, 
to  be  favorable.  From  this  circumstance,  the  place 
was  called  the  English  Turn;  an  appellation  which  it 
••till  retains. 

While  Bienville  was  on  l)oard,  a  French  engineer, 
named  Secon,  handed  him  a  memorial  to  be  forward- 
ed  to  the  court  of  France.  It  stated,  that  the  memo- 
rialist, and  ibur  hundred  protestant  families  who  had 
emigrated  from  B^ ranee  to  Carolina,  in  consequence 
of  the  revocation  of  the  edict  of  Nantz,  in  1684,  were 
anxious  to  come  and  live  under  the  French  govern- 
ment in  Louisiana,  provided  liberty  of  conscience  was 
promised  them.  This  paper  was  accordingly  forwar- 
ded; but  the  Count  de  Ponlchartrain  answered,  that 
his  sovereign  hadnot  driven  these  protestants  from  his 
kingdom  to  make  a  republic  of  them  in  America.  Re- 
ligious intolerance  had  greatly  thinned  the  population 


^'':« 


»•  HJ 


n 


I'?    'i 


fi 


i(  '\ 


160 


CHAPTER 


[16U9 


1  w: 

I'l'll 


!V* 


m 

I. ''ill 


of  France,  and  was  now  to  chrrk  that  of  her  colonics. 
Its  (lire  evils  were  not  confined  to  Catholic  counlries 
nor  to  the  old  world — they  have  heen  felt  even  in 
"the  land  of  the  free."  Ahout  sixty  years  hefore,  the 
general  court  of  Massachusetts  excluded  irorn  the 
enjoyment  of  political  rights,  those  who  had  not  heen 
received  into  the  church  as  meinhers;  and  even  at 
this  day,  the  constitution  of  North  Carolina  withholds 
some  of  them  from  those  who  deny  the  truth  of  the 
protestant  religion. 

Bienville,  after  the  departure  of  the  English  ships. 
descended  the  river  to  the  sea,  and  sounded  its  wes- 
tern pass;  he  found  eleven  feet  of  water  on  its  bar. 

Returning,  he  reached  the  village  of  the  Bayagou- 
las  on  the  first  of  October.  These  Indians  were  in  the 
greatest  consternation  ;  having  been  lately  surprised 
by  the  Oumas,  who  made  several  of  their  people  pri- 
soners. The  war  that  had  broke  out  betMcen  these 
two  tribes  was  occasioned  by  a  dispute  about  their 
limits.  Bienville,  on  leaving  them,  promised  to  the 
Bayagoulas,  that  he  would  soon  return  with  some  of 
his  men,  and  compel  the  Oumas  to  make  peace  with 
them. 

On  his  way  down,  he  was  guided  to  a  portage  or 
crossing  place;  his  pirogues  were  carried  over  to 
bayou  Tigouyou,  through  which  he  reached  lake 
Pontchartrain,  and  in  four  days  arrived  at  the  Ibrt  of 
Biloxi. 

Several  guns  fired  at  sea,  attracted  the  attention  of 
the  colonists  on  the  seventh  of  December.     Sauvolle 
sent  out  a  light  boat,  which  soon  came  back  with  the 
pleasing  intelligence  of  the  approach  of  a  French 
fleet. 

It  consisted  of  a  fifty  and  a  forty  gun  ship,  com- 
manded by  Iberville  and  the  Count  de  Sugeres;  Sau- 
volle    had    been    appointed    governor,    Bienville 


Ionics. 
II J  trios 
/en  in 
IT.  the 
jm  the 
)t  been 
ven  at 
hholds 
I  of  tlie 

I  ships. 
its  wrs- 
,  bfir. 
lyagou- 
e  in  the 
irpriscd 
►pie  pri- 
?n  these 
•ut  their 
I   to  the 
some  of 
ice  with 

tage  or 

over  to 

led  lake 

e  fort  of 

:?ntion  of 

5auvolle 

with  the 

French 

ip,  com- 
es; Sau- 
Bienviile 


17001 


THE  HKVKiNTH 


15} 


Tientenant  j^overnor  of  [.ouisiana;  and  Boislirinni 
major  of  the  fort.  This  olfieer,  with  two  others,  St. 
Deiiys  and  Malon,  came  in  the  ships,  witli  sixty  Ca- 
nadians; they  were  aecornpani(,'d  by  Ijcsneur,  a  geo- 
logist, who  was  sent  to  examine  a  greenish  earth  or 
ochre,  which  some  of  the  meii,  who  had  accompanied 
Dacan  up  the  Mississippi,  had  noticetl  on  its  hanks. 

Iberville,  liiiding  from  l>ien\ille's  report,  thnt  the 
English  meditated  :ui  establishment  on  the  Mississip- 
pi, determined  on  ellecting  one  immediately.  He  de- 
parted ibr  tiiat  purpose  in  the  smallest  vessel,  with 
fifty  Canadians,  on  the  seventeenth  of  January,  having 
sent  Bienville  by  the  lakes  to  the  Bayagoulas  to  pro- 
cure guides  to  some  spot  in  the  lower  part  of  the  ri- 
ver, secure  from  the  iimndation.  They  led  him  to 
an  elevated  one,  at  the  distance  of  fifty-four  miles  from 
the  sea;  where  Iberville  met  them  soon  after,  and  the 
building  of  a  fort  wns  immediately  begun. 

Towards  the  middle  ol"  February,  they  were  met 
by  the  Chevalier  de  Tonti  from  the  Ilhnois  with  se- 
ven men  ;  he  had  lei't  others,  w  ho  had  accompanied 
him,  at  the  Bayagoulas.  The  object  of  his  journey 
was,  to  ascertain  the  truth  of  a  report  which  had 
reached  him,  of  the  establishment  of  a  French  coIo- 

Three  days  after,  Ibervill?  and  Bienville  sat  off" 
with  the  chevalier  and  a  small  party  for  t!ie  upper 
part  of  the  Mississippi.  They  stopped  at  the  Baya- 
goulas, with  whom  they  remained  till  the  first  of 
March,  and  proceeded  to  the  Oumas,  with  the  view 
of  inducing  or  compelling  them  to  release  the  prison- 
ers they  had  taken  Irom  the  Bayagoulas.  On  ap- 
proaching the  village  of  the  Oumas,  Iberville  went 
forward  with  a  few  Bayagoula  chiefs ;  as  he  approach- 
ed their  village,  the  Oumas  met  and  received  him 
with  much  respect.     He  was  successful  in  hisendea- 


'4 


■"4 1 


•'.V  r, 


152 


CHAl'TKR 


,  m 


(170(1 


I  li 


^:f 


*iii 


I 


vours ;  pc'iuo  wab  nifulc  holwrcn  Ihe  two  tribes,  and 
the  Bayai^oiila  prisonrrs  w(M*e  lilH'ialod. 

From  the  Oumas,  the  Trench  |yrocee(h'<l  to  the; 
Natchez  ;  tfiis  nation  had  been  hitely  reduced  by 
wars  to  twelve  liundred  warriors.  A  missionary,  na- 
med St.  Come,  had  arrived  some  time  before  from 
Canada,  and  fixed  his  residence  ainonji;  (hem.  The 
king,  or  Great  Sun  of"  the  nation,  on  hearing  ol'the  ap- 
proach of  the'  French,  came  forward  on  the  shoul- 
ders of  some  of  his  peopU%  attended  by  a  large  reti- 
nue, and  welcomed  Iberville;  those  Indians  appear- 
ed much  more  civilized  than  the  others.  They  pre- 
served in  a  temple  a  perpetual  fire,  kept  up  by  a 
priest,  and  otFercd  to  it  the  first  fruits  of  the  chase. 

The  Tensas,  a  neighbouring  nation,  were  in  alliance 
with  the  Natchez,  and  much  resembled  them  in  their 
manners  and  religion. 

While  Iberville  remained  there,  one  of  the  temples 
was  struck  and  set  on  fire  by  lightning.  The  keeper 
of  the  fane  solicited  the  squaws  to  throw  their  little 
ones  into  the  fire,  to  appease  the  divinity;  four  infants 
were  thus  sacrificed,  before  the  French  could  prevail 
on  the  women  to  desist. 

On  the  twenty  secorul  of  March,  Iberville  returned 
to  the  fort  near  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  and  from 
thence  to  that  at  the  Biloxi.  He  was  much  pleased 
with  the  country  of  the  Natchez,  and  corjsidered  it  as 
the  most  suitable  part  of  the  province,  for  its  princi- 
pal establishment :  he  selected  a  high  spot,  which  he 
laid  out  for  a  town,  and  called  it  Rosalie,  in  honor  of 
the  countess  of  Pontchartrain,  who  had  received  that 
name  at  the  baptismal  fount. 

On  the  day  that  Iberville  left  the  Natchez,  Bien- 
ville and  St.  Denys,  attended  by  a  few  Canadians  and 
a  number  of  Indians,  sat  off  for  the  country  of  the 
Yatassees,  in  the  western  part  of  Louisiana. 


I  ij 


(1700 
,  aii(t 

Lo  {\\v 
a  by 
y,  ua- 

iVom 

The 
lio  ap- 
shoul- 
V,  rrti- 
ppear- 
'y  pre- 
p  by  a 
liase. 
Iliarice 
in  ilieir 

cmples 
keeper 
ir  little 
infants 
prevail 

^turned 
ul  from 
^leased 
ed  it  as 
princi- 
lich  he 
onor  of 
/edthal 

;,  Bien- 

ans  and 
of  the 


1700] 


TIIR  SRVKNTH 


16;j 


■■„a 


Iberville,  on  liis  arrival  al  llie  fort  oflViloxi,  was  in- 
toniied  that  the  irovcrnor  ol  I'ensaeola  had  comh'  to 
Siiip  Island  with  a  thirty  <;un  ship,  aiul  one  hundred 
and  (orly  men.  with  the  \  iew  of  dri\  in^- the  l^-enrh 
away.  He  loniifl  there  a  siiperio'"  force,  a-ul  content- 
ed himself  with  •»  soh'iini  protest  against  what  he  cal- 
led the  nsnrp;ition  of  a  country  which  he  considrr- 
ed  as  part  of  the  ;;overnujent  ot"  iMexico.  He  fur- 
nished the  ( 'ouiit  de  Su^eres  with  a  copy  oflliisin- 
strument,  which  the  latter,  sailing  l()r  I'^rancc^  a  lew 
days  afterwards,  carried  thither. 

Lcsueur,  with  a  deta(;hnient  »)f  twenty  men,  sal  oil 
tor  the  country  of  the  Sioux,  in  tlie  hitter  part  of 
April. 

Ill  the  mean  while,  Bienville  and  St.  Denys  return- 
ed to  Biloxi ;  they  had  found  the  country  thro'  which 
they  intended  to  pass,  entirely  covered  with  water, 
and  had  proceeded  to  the  village  of  the  VVashilas,  in 
which  they  found  but  five  huts;  the  Indians  having 
mostly  removed  to  the  Natchitoches.  They  crossed 
Red  river,  and  met  six  of  the  latti'r  Indians  wfio  were 
carrying  salt  to  the  Coroas,  a  tribe  who  dwcdt  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  V'azou  river.  On  the  seventh  of  April 
they  reached  the  village  of  the  Outchiouis,  in  which 
were  about  fitly  warriors;  here  they  were  supplied 
with  provisions,  and  one  of  the  Indians  accompanied 
them  as  a  guide  to  the  Yatassees,  w  hose  village  was 
very  large,  as  they  had  two  hundred  warriors.  The 
information  the  travellers  obtained  of  the  country  to 
the  west  was  imperfect.  They  did  not  hear  of  any 
vSpanish  settlement  in  the  vicinity. 

On  their  way  down  the  Mississippi,  they  stopped 
at  the  Bayagoulas,  whose  village  was  almost  entirely 
destroyed  by  the  Mongoulachas,  a  tribe  who  dwelt 
near  them. 

Iberville  returned  to  France,  towards  the  last  of 

LOU.  f.  20 


'4 


i  ■  u 


i.yi 


CI  I. \  ITER 


I  I  70<*' 


\i  ! 


Mny.  [{<■  l<'H  l>i(>nviil<'  in  cotntitaiid,  in  tlir  fort  on 
the  Mississippi.  jmkI  sent  St.  Driiys  with  twt'lvc  (ana- 
ilians  and  a  nunthrr  of  Indians  to  pro.secuto  the  dis^c.o- 
Verirs  \\o  had  h<'p;nn  on  lied  rivrr. 

Ailhoiio;h  ihr  I-  rcnch  had  now  hrcn  upwards  ol 
two  v<'ai*s  in  Louisiana,  (hey  do  ncd  appear  (o  have 
resorted  to  the  cuhm-e  of  the  earth  lor  suhsislenee; 
they  (h'pen(h*d  entirely  on  stipph's  iVoin  !•' ranee  or 
St.  l)oinin<^o.'  lisiiin''"  and  hnnli.  ^  allorded  the  co- 
lony fresh  meat,  and  the  jM'ople  e.irried  on  a  small 
trade  with  the  Indian  trilcs  (  n  the  siaeoast.  Cloveru- 
mcnl,  instrail  ol"  e.onrent rating  lh<'  population,  seem- 
ed more  intent  on  makin*;-  new  discoveries  w  here 
other  setthMnents  mit^ht  he  made,  and  to  seek  in  the 
bowels  of  the  (Mrth  lor  metals  and  ochies.  'V\iv  at- 
tention oi'the  colonid  ollicers  had  heen  directed  to  a 
search  ll)r  jjcarls.  'i'he  wool  olhulliiloes  was  pointed 
out  to  them  as  the  future  staple  commodity  of  the 
country,  and  they  were  directetl  to  have  aniunherof 
these  animals  penned  and  tamed.  iNay,  thouuhts 
were  entertained  of  shipping  some  olthe  y(»untj;  to 
Prance,  in  order  to  propagate  the  species  tliere. 

Charles  the  second,  the  (iflh  and  last  monarch  of 
Spain  of  the  house  of  Austria,  died  on  tl»e  tenth  of  No- 
veud)(!r  1700,  in  the  thirty-ninth  year  of  his  age,  and 
without  issue.  His  nill  called  to  the  throne,  he  was 
leaving,  Philip,  Duke  of  Anjou.  a  grandson  ol"  Louis 
the  I'ourteenth.  Although  the  new  king  was  received 
with  acclamations  in  LVhulrid,  his  elevation  vvas  pow- 
erfully opposed  hy  the  Archduke  Charles,  who  wa* 
siuppoited  hy  itis  lather,  and  hy  England,  Holland,  Sa- 
voy. Prussia  and  Portugal.  Thus,  the  llames  of  war 
hegan  to  rage  in  Europe,  in  that  contest,  which  ik 
called  the  war  of  the  vSpanisli  succession. 

St.  Denys  returned  in  the  fall,  after  a  very  tiresome 
journey  ol  upwards  of  ijix.  months,  without  any  mate- 


1  1  70<'' 

fort  on 

0  Canu- 
ck ilisto- 

ards  ol 
to  liavc 
iisU'iifL'; 
raiK'c  Ol 

1  \\\v  vo- 
a  small 
(lovnii- 
iii,  sct'in- 
:>s  uhcrc 
I'k  ill  the 

Tilt'  at- 
I'tcvl  It)  a 
?  poiiittnl 
y    ol"  lilt' 

lIlllllxM"  ol 

lliouglils 
youiiii;   to 

\Vl'(\ 

jiiarch  of 
Jill  of  No- 
.  ai^e,  and 
It',  lie  was 
ol"  Louis 
i  receivt'd 
was  pow- 
.  Avho  vvai 
(Hand,  Su- 
es of  war 
,,  which  Ik 

y  tiresome 
any  mate- 


kU)\\ 


TUK  SKVKNTir. 


\!jf} 


rial  iiilonnifion  respoclin^  (lie  Indians   in  the  upper 
pari  of iJrd  ri\<'r. 

licsijciir  had  !i>«<'n<h(l  the  Mississippi,  as  hiijjh  as 
the  falls,  to  vvliieli  Dicaii  atnl  llciiiirpin  had  trivcn  ihe 
name  of  Si.  Anilioiiy.  proci'Mh'd  np  Si.  I'elrrs'  river 
upwards  of  Olio  hundred  and  Iwenly  miles,  and  eiiler- 
ed  a  stream,  whifh  heeallrd  (irern  river,  lrou»  ihc  hue 
imparted  to  ils  water,  hy  a  <,n«'ehish  oehre,  which  co- 
vered the  land  around  a  copper  mine,  and  was  inler- 
niixetl  with  the  t)rr  on  the  suifac<'.  The  iee  preventetl 
hisatlvanee  move  than  (hree  miles,  allhous;li  it  was 
now  the  latler  })art  ofSeptemher.  He  employed  his 
detachment  in  huilding  a  small  fort,  in  which  ihey 
wintered.  It  was  ealletl  Fort  Thnillier,  in  complimtMit 
to  a  farmer-fjeneral  of  that  name,  one  of  Lesueur 
patrons,  hi  the  sprinj^,  the  party  proceetletl  to  the 
mine,  at  the  loot  of  a  mountain,  w  hieh  the  Indians  saitl 
was  thirty  miles  in  length.  It  was  very  near  the  hank 
of  the  river  :  thirteen  thousanti  weight  of  a  mixtiu'c  of 
ochre  and  ore  were  gathered,  hrought  to  Biloxi,  and 
shipped  to  France.  B^-om  the  circumstance  of  the 
mine  having  heen  abandoned,  it  is  concludetl  that  no 
value  was  attached  to  the  shipment.  Lesneur  had 
left  the  greatest  part  of  his  men  in  the  fort,  to  keep 
possession  of  the  country. 

A  frigate  arrived  from  France  on  the  thirtieth  of 
May,  under  the  orders  of  Deiaronde.  Government, 
always  under  the  impression  that  wealth  was  to  be 
sought  in  the  bowels  of  the  earth,  in  Louisiana,  ra- 
ther than  gathered  from  its  surface,  by  the  tlidl  and 
steady  process  of  tillage,  and  listening  with  unaba- 
ted crethdity  to  the  tales  of  every  impostor,  whocame 
from  America,  a  Canadian,  of  the  name  of  Mathew 
Sagan,  who  hatl  furnished  the  Count  de  Pontchar- 
traiu  with  feigned  memoirs,  in  which  he  pretended  to 
liave  asceiidctl  the  Missouri  and  discovered  mines  of 


r 


m 


?•»  1 


•I 


.  % 


•i;li, 


io6 


ClIAPTEIl 


(1701 


.4 


■'♦ 


gold,  ari'iv(Hl  in  this  vessel.  '^Fhe  minister.  yieUling- 
to  the  ilhision  whicli  8na;iui"s  memoirs  proihieed,  had 
ordered  liis  services  to  he  seemed  at  a  ii^reat  expense, 
and  instructed  Sauvolle  to  hav((  twenty-four  pi ro«^ues 
hiiilt  and  one  hmidred  C'ariadians  phiced  with  them, 
jMider  the  orih^rs  of  this  man,  to  enable  him  to  pro- 
ceed to  tlie  Missouri  an<l  work  the  mines.  He  was 
well  known  to  most  ot"  the  Canadians  in  l^ouisiana, 
who  were  conscious  he  never  had  heen  on  the  Mis- 
souri. Sauvolle,  intbrmcd  of  tlie  character  of  the  man. 
did  not  hurry  the  intended  expedition,  although,  in 
obedience  lo  his  instructions,  he  gave  orders  for  the 
building  of  the  pirogues.  The  frigate  staid  but  a  few 
days  in  Louisiana. 

vSauvolle  dying,  on  the  twenty-second  of  July, 
Bienville  succeeded  him,  in  the  chief  command  and 
removed  from  the  Mississippi  to  Biloxi.  Parties  of 
the  Choctaws  and  Mobile  Iiidians  came  a  few  days 
after  his  arrival,  to  visit  him.  Their  object  was  to 
solicit  the  aid  of  the  French  against  the  Chickasaw's, 
who  harrassed  them  by  frequent  irruptions  in  their 
villages.  The  French  chief,  considering  tliat  his 
colony  w^as  too  weak  to  be  embroiled  in  ihe  quarrels 
of  the  Indian  tribes  near  it,  declined  giving  his  visi- 
tors any  offensive  aid.  but  sent  an  officer,  accompan- 
ied by  a  i'ew  Canadians,  to  alTbrd  the  Choctaws  his 
jrood  oifices  as  mcMliator. 

A  party  of  the  Alibamons  visited  the  fort,  about 
•  he  same  time. 

The  utter  neglect  of  agriculture,  and  the  failure  of 
the  supplies  which  had  been  relied  on  from  France, 
St.  Domingo  and  V^era  Cruz,  reduced  the  colony  to 
great  distress  during  the  summer:  the  people  hav- 
ing nothing  to  subsist  on,  but  a  few  baskets  of  corn, 
occasionally  brought  in  by  the  natives,  and  what 
'ould  be   obtained    by  the  chase  or  drawn  from  the 


!-> 


(1701 

>cl,  had 

peiise, 
roi^ues 
I  tliem, 
to  pro- 
rle  was 
jisiana, 
be  Mis- 
le  man. 
)u<r[u  in 

for  the 
jt  a  few 

)f  July, 

iiid  and 

irties  of 

evv  days 

was   lo 

kasaws, 

in  their 

hat   his 

[juarrels 

his  visi- 

2ompaM- 

tavvs  his 

t,  about 

lilure  of 
France, 
olony  to 
pie  liav- 
of  corn, 
id  wliat 
Voin  the 


iHJ'-i\ 


THE  SEVCNTll. 


15"; 


water  by  the  net  or  line.  In  the  fall,  disease  added 
its  Iiorrors  to  those  of  famine.  Most  of  the  colonists 
sickeniul  and  many  died  ;  their  number  was  reduced 
to  one  hundred  and  filty.  They  were  not  relieved 
till  late  in  December. 

Iberville  now  arrived  with  two  ships  of  the  line  and 
a  hriy;,  brinjring  a  reinl^  u  "">ent  of  troops. 

In  pursuance  oi  the  kni<f  s  instructions,  Bienville 
left  twenty  men,  under  the  orders  of  Boisbriant,  at 
the  Ibrt  of  Uiloxi,  and  moved  his  head  quarters  to  the 
western  bank  of  the  river  Mobile. 

The  ollicer,  who  bad  accompanied  the  Choctaw^ 
and  Mohilians,  now  returned.  He  had  been  suc- 
cessful, in  his  mediutioii,  and  a  peace  had  been  con- 
cluded, between  these  Indians  and  the  Chickasaws. 

A  supply  of  provisions  from  Vera  Cruz,  where 
Bienville  had  sent  a  light  vessel,  added  to  a  large 
one  by  the  fleet,  restored  abundance  in  the  colony, 
and  enabled  him  to  afford  relief  to  the  garrison  of  Pen- 
sacola,  which  was  reduced  to  great  distress. 

Besides  the  new  settlement  on  Mobile  river,  an- 
other was  now^  begun  on  Massacre  Island,  the  omin- 
ous name  of  which  was  changed  to  Dauphine  Island. 
Its  fine  port  afTording  a  much  more  convenient  place 
to  land  goods,  than  Ship  Island,  the  coast  of  Biloxi  or 
Mobile  river.  Barracks  and  stores  were  built,  with  a 
number  of  houses,  and  a  fort  was  erected  to  afford 
them  protection. 

Iberville  returned  to  France  in  the  fleet. 

William  the  third  of  England,  died  on  the  sixteenth 
of  March,  in  consequence  of  a  fall  from  his  horse,  in 
the  fifty-third  year  of  his  age.  Mary,  his  queen,  had 
died  in  1691.  Neither  left  issue — Anne  her  sister, 
succeeded  him. 

The  new  queen  declared  war  against  France  and 
Spain,  on  tlie  second  of  May. 


.■11 
i 

1  ,1 


I 


i. 


l?1     • 


r 


': 


ll 


■  il  r  t 


Ibb 


CHAPTER 


r<[)t 


There  were  other  causes  of  irritation  between 
England  and  France,  than  the  Inte  increase  of  pow- 
er and  inlluence  France  had  acquired  in  consequence 
of  the  occupation  ol'the  throne  of  Spain,  hy  a  grand- 
son of  Louis  the  fourteenth.  The  late  treaty  of 
peace  in  169(i,  had  left  the  boundary  line,  between 
the  dominions  of  France  arid  Fngland,  unascertained. 
The  queen  claimed  the  whole  country  to  the  west  of 
the  river  of  St.  Croix,  as  part  of  the  province  of  iMas- 
sachusetts;  while  the  king  sought  to  exclude  her  sub- 
jects from  the  fisheries  on  the  coast,  and  from  all  the 
country  east  of  the  Kennebec  river.  De  Callieres, 
Governor  of  Canada,  proposed  to  Governor  Dudley, 
of  Massachusetts,  that  the  colonies  should  forbear 
taking  part  in  the  war  between  the  mother  countries; 
but  the  oflfer  was  not  acceded  to,  and  hostilities  be- 
gan immediately,  by  irruptions  of  the  French  of  Cana- 
da and  their  Indian  allies,  on  the  frontier  settlements 
of  Massachusetts  and  New  Hampshire.  Governor 
Moore,  of  South  Carolina,  on  the  first  rumour  of  the 
declaration  of  war,  proposed  to  the  Legislature  to 
furnish  him  the  means  of  making  an  excursion  into 
Florida.  A  war  with  Spain  was  already  a  popular 
measure  in  all  the  English  American  provinces. 
The  colonists  considered  it  as  the  readiest  mean 
tliey  had  of  acquiring  specie,  of  Avhich  there  was 
generally  a  great  scarcity  among  them.  The  appli- 
cation of  Moore  was  successful,  and  he  soon  proceed- 
ed to  the  attack  of  St.  Augustine. 

This  alarmed  the  Spaniards  at  Pensacola,  and  they 
solicited  Bienville's  aid.  At  the  same  time,  an  offi- 
cer from  the  garrison  of  St.  Augustine  reached  Mo- 
bile, on  a  like  errand.  The  French  chief  afforded  to 
the  governor  of  Pensacola  arms  and  ammunition,  and 
sent  one  hundred  men,  Canadians,  Europeans  and 
Indians,  to  St.  Augustine.     At  the  same  time  he  dei?- 


1 703] 


THE  SEVENTH. 


ir#' 


ween 

'  |)0W- 

uence 
;rjiiKl- 
ity  of 
tween 
allied, 
rest  of 
f  Mas- 
!r  sub- 
all  the 
llieres, 
hulley, 
orbear 
intries; 
ios  be- 
fCana- 
cmeiits 
)vernor 
of  the 
ture  to 
on  into 
)opular 
)vinces. 
t  mean 
re  was 
appU- 
roceed- 

nd  they 
an  offi- 

ed  Mo- 

)rded  to 
on,  and 

ms  and 
he  des- 


patched a  light  vessel  to  Vera  Cruz,  to  convey  iu- 
iormation  to  the  vice-roy,  of  the  danger  of  the  pos- 
sessions of  his  sovereign,  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Louisiana  and  Carolina. 

In  the  meanwhi'ie,  the  English  of  Carolina  had  in- 
duced the  Chickasaws  to  send  emissaries  among  the 
Indians,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  settlements  of  the 
French  on  the  gulf,  to  induce  them  to  take  part  in 
the  war;  and  in  the  fall,  father  Davion  and  father 
Limoges,  who  dwelt  among  the  Natchez,  came  to 
Mobile  ar)d  informed  Bienville,  the  Coroas  had  kil- 
led Foucault  their  colleague,  and  three  other  French- 
men. The  commandant  of  the  ii^rt  at  Albany  had 
also  prevailed  on  the  Iroquois  to  attack  the  frontier 
settlers  in  Canada.  The  Indians  fell  also  on  detach- 
ed plantations,  which  the  French  had,  to  the  south 
of  the  lakes,  as  far  as  the  Wabash.  Juchereau,  a 
relation  of  St.  Denys,  had  led  thither  a  number  of  Ca- 
nadians, who  successiully  employed  themselves  in 
collecting  furs  and  peltries.  Driven  from  this  place, 
he  had  led  his  party  westerly ;  and  a  pirogue  with 
some  of  his  men  reached  Mobile,  on  the  third  of 
February.  Their  object  was  to  solicit  the  assistance 
of  the  government  of  Louisiana:  Bienville  had  been 
instructed  to  atlord  it.  But  the  relief  he  had  lately 
yielded  to  the  Spaniards,  the  length  of  time  he  had 
been  without  succour  from  France,  and  the  wants  of 
his  colony,  limited  the  aid  he  gave  .luchereau,  to  one 
barrel  of  powder. 

In  the  summer,  information  reached  Mobile  of  the 
death  of  the  Chevalier  de  Callieres,  governor-general 
of  New  France,of  which  goverinnent,  l^ouisiana  made 
a  part.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  Marcjuis  de  Vau- 
dreuil. 

The  men  sent  by  Bienville,  to  the  rehef  of  St.  Au- 
gustine, found,  on  their  arrival  there,  a  naval  force 


MM 


m,. 


'i'l 


'\  1 1 


111 
111. 


ibu 


CHAPTER 


[1704 


f 


from  the  island  of  Cuba,  on  the  approach  of  which, 
the  troops  of  Carolina  and  their  red  allies  had  re- 
treated. Becancourt,  who  had  gone  to  Vera  Cruz 
io  give  information  of  the  danger  of  St.  Augustitie, 
returned  with  a  letter  from  ihe  Duke  of  Albuquer- 
que, vice-roy  of  Mexico,  in  which  that  nobleman 
communicated  to  Bienville,  the  orders  he  had  from 
his  sovereign,  to  admit  vessels  from  Louisiana  in  the 
ports  of  his  government,  and  to  allow  them  to  export 
provisions. 

The  men,  whom  Lesueur  had  left  at  Fort  Thuil- 
lier  among  tlie  Sioux,  for  awhile  thought  that  the 
Mississippi  was  asulficient  barrier  between  them  and 
the  Indians,  under  the  inlluence  of  the  English  ;  but 
they  now  found  themselves  so  vigorously  attacked, 
that  they  could  no  longer  retain  their  position.  They 
descended  the  Mississippi,  and  reached  Mobile  on 
the  third  of  March,  1701. 

The  government  of  South  Carolina,  after  the  forced 
retreat  ot  its  troops,  from  St.  Augustine,  had  employ- 
ed a  pai-t  of  them  against  the  Indians,  in  its  neigh- 
bourhood, under  the  protection  of  Spain.  Large 
parties  of  the  Cherokees,  Cohuntas,  Talapooses  and 
Alibamons,  swelled  by  a  number  of  negroes  and 
headed  by  Englishmen,  invaded  the  country  of  the 
Apalaches.  An  oificer  of  the  garrison  of  St.  Marks, 
came  to  Mobile,  to  intorm  Bienville  that,  the  Apala- 
che  Indians  had  applied  to  the  commandant  of  that 
fort,  for  a  supply  of  arms  and  ammunition,  which  it  had 
not  been  thought  prudent  to  grant.  Inconsequence 
ofthis,  two  thousand  of  these  Indians  had  been  com- 
pelled to  remove  towards  Carolina  Two  of  their 
villages,  the  inhabitants  ol  which  were  catholics,  had 
remained  faithful  to  the  Spaniards;  their  warriors 
had  fought  bravely,  and  two  hundred  of  them  had 
been   killed.      The    enemy   had    committed   much 


ht 


1704] 


THE  SEVENTH 


itJJ 


WHste  ill  the  neighbourhood,  piiiicipally,  in  the  remo- 
val or  destruction  ol  caltle.  Bienville  was  solieitei 
to  send  a  lew  soldiers  to  St  Marks  :  but  he  thoni^ht  his 
garrison  too  weak  to  he  divided,  and  supplied  the 
Spaniards  with  militar)  stores  oid}. 

At  the  same  time,  a  number  of  Elnglishmen  earac 
amo!»g  the  Alihamons,  with  the  view  ot"  inducing  them 
to  tall  on  the  French.  These  Indians  resisted  their 
solicitations,  and  sent  word  to  Bienville  to  be  on  his 
guard,  otlering  to  furnish  him  with  corn,  of  which, 
they  said  they  had  great  abundance.  The  garrison 
being  ill  suppli*'d  with  this  article,  Dubreuil  was  sent 
with  a  few  soldiers  to  etfect  a  purchase.  One  of 
these  returned  soon  alter,  with  a  broken  arm.  He 
related  that  the  parly  had  been  met  by  twelve  of 
thes<^  Indians,  at  the  distance  of  two  days'  journey 
from  thei''  village,  with  the  calumet  of  peace ;  but, 
at  night,  the  Indians  treacherously  rose  on  them,  and 
murdered  his  companions.  He  succeeded  in  making 
his  escape,  by  throwing  himself  into  the  river,  after 
having  received  the  stroke  of  an  axe  on  his  arm.  The 
Indians   tired  several  times  at   him,   while   he  was 


swimmnig. 


A  small  tleet,  composed  of  a  French  frigate,  under 
the  order  of  Lelevre  de  la  Barre,  a  son  of  the  late 
governor  of  New  FVance,  and  four  Spanish  sloops, 
made  this  year  an  unsuccessful  attack  on  Charleston, 
in  South  Carolina.  Sir  Nathaniel  Johnson,  governor 
of  that  province,  having  had  timely  information  of  the 
approach  of  the  enemy,  made  a  powerful  and  suc- 
cessful resistance. 

Louisiana  now  sufTered  greatly  from  the  scarcity 
of  provisions.  But,  the  governor  of  Pensacola,  re- 
turning from  a  visit  to  iMexico,  brought  a  very  ample 
supply  for  his  garrison,  and  cheerfully  relieved  his 
neighbours.     They  bad  been  obliged  to  separate,  in 

LOU.  I..  21 


r- 


H 


i 


16ii 


CHAPTER 


ii     If 


[no  I 


If 


small  partiofi,  along  tlie  coast,  in  order  to  seek  a  pre- 
cirious  subsistence  out  of  the  water.  Shortly  after- 
wards, the  return  of  Becancourt,  who  had  been  sent  to 
Vera  Cruz,  restored  abundance.  Bienville  received 
by  him  the  thanks  of  the  vice-roy,  for  the  aid  afforded 
to  the  garrisons  of  St.  Marks  and  Pensacola,  with  as- 
surance of  his  readiness  to  supply  the  French  at  Lou- 
isiana, with  any  thing  they  might  need. 

The  arrival,  soon  after,  of  a  ship  from  France  (un- 
der Chateaugue,  a  brother  of  Bienville)  loaded  with 
provisions  and  military  stores,  removed  for  awhile 
the  appreliension  of  famine.  Seventeen  new  colo- 
nists came  in  her,  and  brought  implements  of  hus- 
bandry. 

The  satisfaction,  wliich  the  restoration  of  plenty 
created,  was  marred  by  the  ari'ival  of  a  party  of 
Cliickasavvs,  who  reported  that  five  Frenchmen  had 
been  killed  by  Uic  Tagoinneo  Indians,  who  dwelt  on 
one  of  the  strean.'s  which  flow  into  the  Wabash. 
These  Indians  had  been  excited  to  this  aggression, 
by  some  Ksiglish  traders,  who  had  lately  arrived 
among  them  from  Virginia. 

These  repeated  and  unprovoked  outrages  from  the 
Indians,  induced  Bienville  to  march  against  the  Ali- 
bamons,  whose  treacherous  conduct  towards  the 
men  he  had  sent,  on  their  invitation  to  purchase  corn 
in  their  village,  remained  unpunished.  He  left  the 
fort  about  Christmas,  with  forty  chosen  men,  attend- 
ed by  a  few  Chickasaws.  He  did  not  meet  any  of  the 
enemy  until  after  a  march  of  several  days,  towards 
niglit,  and  was  advised  l)y  his  ofiicers  to  delay  the 
attack  till  day-light.  The  Alibamons  occupied  an 
eminence  of  difficult  access,  which  the  French  ap- 
proached. The  night  was  dark  and  the  ground  cov- 
ered with  rushes,  and  the  noise,  necessarily  made  by 
the  French,  in  their  progress,  enabled  the  foe  to  pour 


111 


1  ; 


,    'I. 

I,' 


i;nu4 

a  pre- 
alter- 
sent  to 
ceived 
fo  riled 
ith  as- 
it  Lou- 

ce  (un- 
id  with 
awhile 
r  colo- 
ur h  US- 
plenty 
)arty  of 
len  had 
welt  oil 
^' abash, 
ression, 
arrived 

cm  the 

he  Ali- 

rds  the 

se  corn 

left  the 

attend- 

\y  of  the 

owards 

lay  the 

pied  an 

nch  ap- 

ind  cov- 

nade  by 

to  pour 


i%b] 


'I^HE  SKVFNTn. 


163 


';M 


in  a  destructive  fire.  Two  mou  wore  killed,  and  one 
was  (langorousiy  wonnded.  The  Indians  now  dis- 
persed, and  Bienville  was  compelled  to  return  vvitii- 
out  inflicting  ariy  other  injury,  than  the  capture  of 
five  pirogues  laden  with  provisions.  The  Chicka- 
saws  pursued  the  Alibamons,  and  afterwards  return- 
ed to  the  fort,  with  five  scalps,  for  which  tliey  were 
""'berally  rewarded. 

The  garrison  received,  during  the  summer,  an  ad- 
dition of  seventy-five  soldiers,  who  arrived  in  a  fifty 
gun  ship,  commanded  by  Decoudray.  Two  Grey 
Sisters  came  in  the  same  ship  to  attend  the  hospital, 
and  also  five  priests  of  the  foreign  missions  (sent  by 
the  bishop  of  Quebec,  of  whose. diocess  Louisiana 
made  apart.)  Besides  these  military  and  spiritual 
supplies,  an  ample  stock  of  provisions  was  brought. 
Neither  were  ot^  er  wants  of  the  colonists  forgotten: 
twenty-three  poor  girls  now  landed,  and  immediately 
found  as  many  husbands. 

A  vessel,  in  which  Becancourt,  had  been  sent  to 
Vera  Cruz  to  obtain  provisions,  returned  early  in 
the  fall ;  but  he  had  died  on  the  return  voyage. 

Ample  as  the  stock  of  provisions  in  the  colony  was 
now,  compa-  ed  with  that  of  former  years,  an  accident 
happened  in  Pensacola,  which  rendered  an  early  at- 
tention to  future  supplies  necessary.  The  fort  was  con- 
sumed by  fire,  and  the  garrison  lost  its  winter  stock  of 
provisions.  They  did  not  seek  relief  among  their 
neighbours  in  vain. 

A  party  of  Choctaws  brought  to  Mobile  the  scalps 
of  five  Alibamons.  From  them  and  a  party  of  Chick- 
asaws,  Bienville  learnt  that  a  number  of  Englishmen 
were  busily  employed  in  their  villages,  in  their  en- 
deavours to  estrange  these  Indians,  from  their  alli- 
ance with  the  French. 

Disease  made  this  year  considerable  havoc  in  the 


^n 


m 


104 


CHAPTER 


fl70: 


colony,  aixl  small  as  its  popiilation  was,  it  counted 
tliirty-iivo  dontlis  in  the  fn II. 

I'^illirr  Davion,  ono  of  llic  missionaries  wlio  had 
lately  descended  the  Mississippi,  wns  still  in  llir  loit, 
niid  il  had  been  ihoufijht  hazardous  to  permit  him  to 
return.  His  (U)ek  j^really  hunented  the  protract<'d 
absJMJce  ol'  thoir  pistor.  In  Novemher,  two  '^Fnnica 
chiets  came  to  escort  iiim  l):»ck.  Pnenville  told  tin  m 
lie  could  not  consent  to  the  r(>tfirn  ot"  the  priest 
amonc;  them,  till  thev  had  avenijed  the  death  ot  ta- 
Iher  Foncault,  his  collenii^ue.  murderetl  l)y  the  Co- 
roas,  at  the  instiiration  of  the  Knjilish.  and  he  expect- 
ed  thev  would  seize  the  t'raders  oi'  that  naiion 
amon^  them,  an<l  briiia;  them  prisoners  to  Molfile, 
Avith  their  goods:  he  oHeKul  to  supply  them  with 
ammunition  :  h:"-:  proposition  was  accepted,  and  St. 
Denys  proposed  to  p;o  with  them,  accomparued  by 
twelve  Canr.dians.  The  party  was  to  besu}>por!ed  by 
another  Canadian  of  the  name  ol  F^ambert,  who  was 
returninjj;;  to  the  Wabash  with  forty  of  his  neighbours. 
The  Tunica  chiefs  sat  otl^  h  iving  promised  to  meet 
St.  Denys  at  the  NatcJiez.  lJien\  ille  gave  orders  for 
building  pirogues ;  but  before  they  were  tinished.  ac- 
counts reached  Mobile  of  the  total  destruction  ol  the 
French  settlemer*s  on  the  Wabash,  by  the  Indian 
allies  of  the  British.  Lambert  gave  up  liis  intended 
journey,  and  it  being  thought  dangerous  lor  St.  Denys 
and  his  party  to  proceed,  w  ilhout  the  escort  which 
had  been  anticipated,  the  project  was  abandoned. 
Juchereau  sent  down  to  Mobile  fifteen  thousand 
hides,  which  he  and  ins  companions  had  collected  on 
the  Wabash. 

The  Indians  near  the  French  were  not  always  in 
peace  among  themselves.  In  the  spring,  the  Chick- 
asaws  made  an  irruption  into  the  countt-y  of  the 
Cboctawfe,  captured  a  number  of  their  people,  car- 


i  70irj 


THE  SRVKNTH. 


16f. 


nod  thnm  to  South  Carolinn,  and  sold  tlirin  as  slaves. 
'^J'licrt'  were  about  Ibrty  ol'llio  Ibruier.inoM,  women  and 
children,  around  the  foit  oC  Mobile.     These  people 
soli(Mted  an  escort  from  I3ienville,   as  they  could  not 
return  home    without   crossing;  the   country  of  the 
hitter.      IJe  detached  St.  Denys  with  twcMity  Cana- 
di  IMS,  on  tliis  service.     As  they  approaehed  the  first 
Choctaw  village,  he   went  in   alone  to  b(>seech  the 
chiefs  to  allow  the  hulians  he  escorted  to  pass.     \\i 
grantinj^  this  re(pi"st,  the  chiet's  stipulated  that  their 
heatJ  man.  should  be  allowed  to  reproach  the  Chick- 
asaw^^.in  the  prescnceol  the  Freni;h.tbr  the  ireachery 
of  their  people.     'I  hey  were   brought  into  an  open 
field  tor  this   purpose,   with   their  guns  cocked   and 
their  knives   in   their  hands.     The  Choctaw  chieis 
were  surroiuided  by  three  hundrr'd  warriors.     Their 
head  man.  holding  a  calumet,  began  by  upbraiding 
the  Chickasaws.   with   the   pcrfidity  of  their  nation. 
He  assured  them  tliat,  if  the  French  took  any  interest 
hi  their  safety,  it  w;»s  from  a  want  of  knowledge  of 
their  baseness,  and  it  was  just  th(:y  should  expiate  by 
their  deaths  the  crimes  ol  their  people.     He  lowered 
the  pfuuiage  of  the  calumet,  and  at  this  preconcert- 
ed signal,  the  Choctaws  taking  a   correct  aim,  fired. 
The  Chickasaw  women  and   children  alone  escaped. 
This  was  not,  however,  edected  without  the  destruc- 
tion ofsomc^oftlie  Choctaws.     St.  Denys,  attempting 
to  intertipre,  was   himselt   wounded.      The  Choctaw 
chiefs  biought  him  back  to  the  Ibrt  and  a  great  num- 
ber oi  their  warriors  followed  in  mournlul  pro^;ession. 
During  the   Liext  month    a  number  of  Chickasaw 
chiefs  went  to  the  Tunicas,  and  embarkini;,  at   their 
village,  descended  the  Mi^^sissippi  and   bayou  IVlan- 
chac.     They  crossed  tlie  lakes  and  came  to  Mobile, 
to  solicit  IVienville's  mediation,  in  elTecling  a  reconci- 
liation, with  the  Choctaws.     Six  other  chiets  came. 


lGt> 


CHAPTER 


[1706 


Ci;  ,■,. 


m 


•i'(  -J 


in  another  direction,  on  the  same  rrrnnd.  [To  sent 
an  otfircM*,  nttenilcMl  by  threr  Canadians  an<l  a  num- 
ber ol'IMiome  Indians,  to  rc<|ncsl  some  ol'  the  Choc- 
taw chietis  to  pay  him  a  visil.  I  li<',y  came  accord- 
ingly, and  peace  was  corichah'd  hftneen  the  (  hoc- 
taws  and  Chickasaws,  and  the  'J'homc  and  Mobile 
tril)es. 

The  Choctaw  chiefs  hnd  scarcely  returned  home, 
when  their  country  was  invaded  hy  two  tliousand 
Chcrokees,  cominnnd»'(l  hy  an  English  ollicer  from 
Carolina.  Several  of  their  vilhiges  were  destroyed 
and  three  hundred  of  their  vvomen  and  cliiidren  were 
led  away  into  slavery. 

At  the  time  the  intelligence  of  this  irruption  reach- 
ed Mobile,  father  Gratiot,  a  Jesuit  missionary  at 
the  Illinois,  reached  the  fort  and  reported  that  a 
party  of  white  men  from  Virginia  had  come  among 
these  Indians,  and  instigated  tliem  to  rise  against  the 
French,  a  number  of  whom  had  been  killed.  The 
holy  man  had  with  much  ditficulty  efTected  his  es- 
cape, but  not  without  receiving  a  wound,  which  was 
still  deemed  dangerous. 

A  party  of  Choctaws  brought  the  scalps  of  nine 
Alibamons  to  Bienville.  These  Indians  were  inces- 
santly committing  hostilities  against  the  French  and 
their  allies.  Boisbriant  was  sent  with  twelve  Cana- 
dians and  the  Choctaws,  to  chastise  them;  but  this 
expedition  had  but  little  success.  Two  scalps  of  the 
Alibamons  were  brought  by  the  Choctaws. 

The  peace,  which  through  the  mediation  of 
Bienville,  the  Choctaws  and  Chickasaws  had  con- 
cluded, in  the  fort  of  Mobile,  was  but  of  a  short  dura- 
tion. Towards  the  end  of  March,  the  latter  made  an 
unprovoked  iiivasion  of  the  country  of  the  former, 
and  brought  away  one  hundred  and  fifty  persons. 
The  French  chief  could  not  forget  that  the  Choctaws 


mm 


[170G 

lo  sent 
1  num- 
Choc- 
icrord- 
:  (  lioc- 
Mobile 

I  bomo, 
loiisaiid 
IT  IVorn 
stroyed 
211  were 

1  reach- 
nary  at 

that  a 
?  among 
liiist  the 
1.     The 

his  es- 
lich  was 

of  nine 
re  inccs- 
nch  and 
e  Cana- 
)ut  this 
IPS  ol'the 

it  ion  of 
ad  cou- 
rt dura- 
made  an 
;  former, 
persons, 
hoc  taws 


) 


170'7} 


THE  SEVENTH 


m; 


had  yiehUnl  to  !iis  representations,  in  biirying  tfie 
hatchet  ;  and  he  tlioti«jht  it  his  (hity  to  assist  them 
against  the  violators  of  the  treaty.  He  sent  them  a 
considerable  supply  of  powder  and  lead. 

Jlostilities  amonir  the  Indian  nations  were  not  con- 
fined to  tlie  neighbourhood  of  Mobile  and  Carolina; 
but  extended  across  the  country  to  the  banks  of  the 
Mississippi.  The  Tensas,  compelled  by  the  V'azous 
to  al)andon  their  villages  near  the  Natchez,  had  come 
down  to  tlie  Bayagoulas,  who  received  them  with 
great  cordiality.  The  treacherous  guests,  regardless 
of  the  laws  of  hospitality,  rose,  in  the  night,  on  their 
unsuspecting  hosts  and  shiughtered  the  greater  part 
of  them.  Fearful  afterwards  that  the  Oumas  and 
Coiapissas,  the  allies  of  the  Bayagoulas,  might  be  in- 
duced, by  those  who  escaped,  to  avenge  the  death  of 
their  countrymen,  the  Tunicas  sent  four  warriors  of 
the  Chetimachas  and  V  achimichas,  to  join  them.  The 
houses  and  fields  of  the  Bayagulas  were  destroyed 
and  ravaged.  The  Tensas  now  turned  their  arms 
against  their  allies,  made  several  prisoners  and  car- 
ried them  into  slavery. 

The  misfortune  of  the  Bayagoulas  excited  no 
sympathy  among  the  French.  It  was  considered 
as  a  just  retaliation  for  their  treachery  in  destroying 
their  former  friends  and  neighbours,  the  Mongou- 
lachas. 

In  the  fall,  a  party  of  the  Hurons,  from  Detroit, 
eame  down  against  the  Arkansas ;  who,  being  ac- 
cidentally apprised  of  their  approach,  went  forward, 
met,  and  destroyed  most  ol"  them.  A  few  of  the 
invaders  were  made  prisoners  and  brought  to  the 
village  of  the  victors,  where  they  were  put  to  death 
with  excruciating  tortures. 

The  colonists  learned,  with  much  regret,  in  the 
fall  of  tlie  year,  t^ie  death  of  Iberville.     He  had  s^il- 


pr-i 


1G8 


CirAI'TKIl 


nuf. 


170!?] 


m 


ed  from  Frnncr,  widi  ii  hrp;c  llrcl,  lor  llic  attack  of 
.larnaica ;  hul.  UMrMiii«ij  lliat  llic  Kiii;lisli,  conscious 
of  llH'ir  (luii«;<'r,  had  inadr'  such  prcpatiilions  as 
Would  |»rol»;d)ly  prcvrul  his  success,  he  proceeded  to 
the  islands  ofSl.  Kills  and  Nevis,  on  uhi<h  he  raised 
larije  eonlrihulions.  lie  ihen  proceed«'d  to  Si.  l)o- 
rninjjfo,  where  he  intended  takin;^  owv  ihousund  troops 
lor  an  exprdilion  iijr  dnst  C'harU'ston,  The  yellow 
fever  ni  ule  a  i^reat  h;ivoc  in  his  Ih'et.  Me  tell  a  vic- 
tim to  th(^  dire  disease;  and  the  expedition  wn* 
al)andon"d. 

vXn  K.iolishuinti.  tradinc:;  amoni(  the  Tunicas,  was 
d<'  poiled  of  his  .<^oods:  he  returned  to  Carolina  and 
prevaile*!  o  i  some  of  the  (yhiek:isa\vs,  Alihanions  and 
oUier  tri!>.'<  in  alliiuice  with  his  nation,  to  accompany 
and  assist  him  in  taking;  revena;e.  The  Tunicas,  find- 
in*:;  themselves  too  weak  to  resist  this  invasion,  souf^^ht 
retii<»;e  amona;  the  Oumas ;  and.  like  the  Tensas,  re- 
warded the  hospit;dity  they  received,  hy  risin<r  in  the 
unsuspectini;  hour  of  rest  on  this  p  irty,  and  min*der- 
ing  or  making  prisoners  of  most  of  them.  Some  of 
the  Oumas,  who  escaped,  removed  to  a  stream,  now 
known  as  the  bayou  St.  John,  not  very  distant  from 
the  spot  on  which  the  city  of  New  Orleans  was  after- 
wards built. 

On  New  Year's  day,  Bourgoing,  appointed  by  the 
bishop  of  Quebec,  his  vicar  general  in  [iouisiana,  ar- 
rived at  Mobile  by  the  way  oftlie  Mississi|)pi.  He 
brought  accounts  of  the  death  of  St.  Cosme,  a  mission- 
ary and  three  other  Prenchmen,  by  theChetimachas. 
Bienville  sent  presents  to  his  allies  on  the  Mississip- 
pi, to  induce  them  to  declare  war  against  those  Indi- 
ans. Tie  was  not  able  to  raise  more  than  eighiy  war- 
riors. St.  Denys  joined  them  with  seven  Canadians, 
and  led  this  little  band  into  the  country  of  the  Clieti- 


ni;i(;has 

and  (lis 

Dinii 

m.'ide  oi 

I   WO 

men.  ca 

the  (l)rt, 

niad(>  tv^ 

A  pa  I 

scal|)s  a 

Noveuil) 

expectai 

whom  tl 

tack  on 

the  moni 

actually 

twenty  ( 

to  its  rel 

ber;  thti 

approac 

of   thret 

white  m( 

ed  by  Si 

rolina. 

sacoia,  v 

provisio 

A    ve 

brandy 

with  th( 

years  aft 

a  vessel 

The 
had  plai 
Englanc 
tiers  of 
ever,  di 
LOIJ.  t, 


^  ■- 


{■109] 


TIIK  SEN  KNTU 


k;^ 


niiichas.  (lr?trovo<l  fhrir  vill;i«rcs,  ravnijod  their  fields, 
and  (lis|)(>;sed  the  iiiliahitatits. 

During;  Ihe  siitiiner,  .in  niisiicerssrid  altetnpt  was 
made  ()!i  ,\<'adie.  Inmi  New  Kii<;l and. 

Two  lmiidre(l  Indiicis,  lie  id<'d  l>v  a  i\'\\  Kncjlisli- 
in<'ii.  eaine  lo  Pens  leol  i,  sat  (iir  to  llie  houses  near 
the  lort,  killed  (en  Spmijirds  a. id  a  rrenehinan.  and 
made  twelve  .\|)alaelie or  Choetaw  Indians  prisoners. 

A  party  of  Tou.ichas  came  to  Mohile  with  two 
scalps  and  a  slave  of  the  Abikas  in  the  l)ei»;innin<;  ot 
NovemlMM";  they  reported  the  Alihamons  were  indaily 
expectation  of  Kiij^lish  troops  from  (Miarleston,  witli 
whom  they  were  preparing:,  to  m  ireli  to  a  s<?eond  at- 
tack on  l*(Misacola.  Ac<(>rdin<;ly  in  the  latter  part  of 
the  month,  I5iciiville  was  inforiinMl  that  the  place  was 
actually  besieged.  At  the  head  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  Canadians  and  as  many  Indians,  he  marched 
to  its  relief.  He  reacthed  it  on  the  eii^hth  of  Decem- 
ber; the  besiegers  had  withdi-awn  on  hearing  of  the 
approach  of  the  French.  Their  force  consisted  only 
of  three  hundred  and  fifty  Fiidians,  and  thirteen 
white  men,  commanded  by  one  Cheney,  commission- 
ed by  Sir  NathanielJohnson,  governor  of  South  Ca- 
rolina. The  French,  after  staying  three  days  in  Peii- 
sacoia,  were  ordered,  on  account  of  the  scarcity  of 
provisions,  to  return. 

A  vessel  from  Havana,  laden  with  provisions, 
brandy  and  tobacco,  came  early  in  January  to  trade 
with  the  colony.  This  was  the  first  instance,  ten 
years  after  the  arrival  of  the  French  in  Louisiana,  of 
a  vessel  coming  to  trade  with  them. 

The  Marquis  de  Vaudreuil,  governor  of  Canada 
had  planned  a  considerable  expedition  against  New 
England.  His  allied  Indians  kept  the  frontier  set- 
tlers of  that  country  in  constant  alarm.  He  was,  how- 
ever, disappointed  in  his  expectation  of  raising  the 

LOU.  t.  22 


I 


1. 

■  1  ■ 


11 


•*«l 


l"u 


CHAPTER- 


[1710 


|l 


'):■■! 


force  he  had  contemplated.  A  strong  party  of'Cana- 
dians  and  Indians,  nevertheless,  entered  the  province 
of  Massachusetts,  and  destroyed  a  part  of  tiie  town 
of  Haverhill,  killed  one  hundred  olits  inhahilants.and 
carried  olf  seventy  prisoners.  In  the  pursuit,  howe- 
ver, a  number  ol"  the  prisoners  uere  retaken,  and  a 
few  of  the  French  killed. 

In  the  following  year,  the  I*ritish  cabinet  determi- 
ned on  vigorous  and  simullancous  attacks  on  Montre- 
al and  Quebec. 

The  first  was  to  be  conducted  by  General  Nichol- 
son, successively  lieutenant-governor  of  New  York 
and  Virginia:  he  was  to  proceed  through  lake  Cham- 
plain.  He  led  his  force  to  Wood  creek,  vvliere  he 
was  to  wait  the  arrival  of  a  British  Heet  at  Boston,  at 
which  place  it  was  to  receive  the  troops  destined  to 
act  against  Quebec.  The  New  England  provinces, 
and  that  of  New  York  had  very  cheerfully  raised  the 
men  required  for  this  service.  The  expectations, 
which  this  armament  had  excited  in  the  British  prcv 
vinces,  were  disappointed, inconsecpience  of  thetleet, 
which  was  to  proceed  to  Boston,  being  ordered  on 
another  service  in  Portugal. 

The  success  of  tlie  settlement,  attempted  in  Loui- 
siana, not  having  aiiswered  the  hopes  of  the  court  of 
Prance,  it  was  determined  to  make  a  considerable 
change  in  the  government  of  the  colony.  With  this 
view,  de  Muys.  an  otficer  who  had  served  with  dis- 
tinction in  Canada  during  the  preceding  and  present 
war,  was  appointed  governor-general  of  Louisiana : 
the  great  distance  from  that  colony  to  Quebec,  the 
seat  oltho  governor-general  of  New-France,  of  which 
it  was  a  dependence,  had  induced  the  belief  that  the 
foi mer  ought  to  be  independent  of  the  latter.  Di- 
ron  d'Artaguette  was  sent  as  commissary  ordonateur, 
with  instructions  to  inquire  into  the  conduct  of  the 


I 


[1710 

)f'Cana- 
rovince 
e  town 
nts.aiid 
,  liowe- 
aiid  a 

etermi- 
Montrc- 

Nichol- 
;u  York 
?  Cham- 
liore  he 
)ston,  at 
itined  to 
ovinces, 
iscd  the 
citations* 
isli  pr(v 
theileet, 
ered  on 

in  Loui- 
court  of 
iderable 
/ith  thift 
vith  dis- 
present 
uisiana : 
bee.  the 
)f  which 
Ihat  the 
•r.  Di- 
)nateur, 
of  the 


1711J 


THE  SEVENTH. 


171 


former  administrators  of  the  colony,  against  whom 
complaints  had  been  made,  to  which  the  ill  success 
of  the  establishment  seemed  to  give  consequetice. 
The  frigate,  in  which  these  gentlemen  had  embark- 
ed, arrived  at  Ship  island  in  the  beginning  of  the  New 
Year.  The  governor-general  had  died  during  the 
passage. 

D'Artaguette  found  Louisiana  in  comparative  tran- 
quility. Vessels  from  St.  Domingo,  Martinique  and 
La  Rochelle,  now  came  to  trade  with  the  colonists. 

Early  in  September,  a  privateer  from  Jamaica,  land- 
ed his  men  on  Dauphine  island,  where  they  commit- 
ted considerable  depredations.  This  is  the  first  in- 
stance of  hostility  of  white  people  against  the  colony. 

On  the  twenty-fourth,  General  Nicholson  with  a 
corps  of  marines,  and  four  regiments  of  infantry,  arriv- 
ed from  Boston,  before  Port  lloyal  in  Acadie.  He 
immediately  invested  the  town,  which  soon  after  sur- 
rendered. Its  name,  in  coinpliment  to  the  British 
queen,  was  changed  to  that  of  Annapolis.  Colonel 
Vetche  was  left  there  in  command. 

The  settlement  near  the  fort  at  Mobile  suffered 
much  in  the  spring,  from  the  overflowing  of  the  river; 
in  consequence  of  which,  at  the  recommendation  of 
d'Artaguette,  the  spot  was  abandoned,  and  a  new 
fort  built  higher  up.  It  was  the  one,  which  till  very 
lately,  stood  immediately  below  the  present  city  of 
Mobile. 

The  government  of  South  Carolina  prevailed  again 
on  the  Chickasaws  to  attack  the  Choctaws,  w  ho  were 
always  the  steadfast  friends  of  the  French.  When 
intelligence  of  this  reached  Mobile,  there  were  about 
thirty  Chickasaw  chiefs  around  the  tort.  Bienville, 
at  their  request  sent  Chateaugut',  with  thirty  men  to 
escort  them  home.     This  service  was  successfully 


T!? 

m 

'■|j 

X 

'*'■■■  1'.^ 

•r 

'r-l 

'^rm 


l*{..-- 


"•'I 


I  'C 


.1'. 


I , .[ 


1 


172 


CHAPTER 


J712 


performed,  notwithstanding  the  Choctaws  made  great 
ellbrts  to  intercept  these  Indians. 

The  government  of  France  Irom  this  period  ceas- 
ed furnishing  supplies  to  Lonisiann,  and  trusted  to  the 
industry  of  private  adventurers,  to  uhom  liowever,  it 
nlVorded  sonu?  aid.  A  frigate  arrived  in  the  month  of 
September,  laden  witti  provisions  hy  individuals  ;  the 
king  fun"  'led  the  ship  only.  D'Artnguette  returned 
in  her,  r.  ch  r^gretted  by  the  colonists  ;  obs'-rvations, 
during  h.sstay  in  liouisinna.  perlectly  conviiiced  him, 
that  its  slow  piogress  coidd  not  be  accelerat(»d  by 
Bienville,  with  the  Iceble  means  of  which  he  had  the 
command. 

In  the  summer.  General  Tlill,  at  the  head  of  six 
thousand  five  hundred  European  and  Provincial 
troops,  sailed  from  Boston  for  the  attack  of  Quebec; 
on  the  twenty-third  of  August,  a  violent  storm  cast 
eight  of  his  transports  on  shore  near  Egg  Island.  One 
thousand  of  his  men  perished:  the  ships  were  greatly 
injured;  and  this  disaster  iruluced  him  to  return.  In 
the  mean  while,  Ceneral  Nicholson  had  led  four  thou- 
sand men  destined  to  the  siege  of  Montreal  to  Alba- 
ny. The  return  of  the  tleet  having:  enabled  the  Mar- 
quis  de  Vaudreuil  to  support  Montreal,  with  all  his 
force,  Nicholson  retrogaded. 

A  ship  of  twenty-six  guns,  under  the  orders  of  La- 
ville  Voisin,  came  to  Ship  Island  in  the  beginning  of 
the  next  year.  This  "enlleman  had  made  a  fruitless 
attempt  to  sell  hvv  cargo  to  the  Spaniards  at  Touspe. 
He  had  brought  to  the  viceroy  letters,  which  he  sup- 
posed would  have  insured  his  admission  into  the  ports 
of  Mexico ;  but  througli  some  mismanagement  his 
:?cheme  tailed;  not  howevei-,  without  his  selling  his 
cargo  to  some  Spanish  merchants,  w  ho  engaged  to  re- 
ceive it  at  Ship  Island.  He  grew  impatient  of  wait- 
mg  for  them,  and  went  on  a  short  cruize  towards  St. 


J712 


1713J 


THE  SEVENTH. 


17.^ 


)f  La- 

liiig  of 
uitless 
(iispe. 
p  sup- 
ports 
lit  fiis 
Mir  his 

J 

|to  rc- 
w a  it- 
is  St. 


Antonio.  Themerchants  arrived  with  their  cash,  wait- 
ed awhile,  and  went  away  without  seeing  him. 

On  the  arrival  of  d'Artaguette  in  France,  and  the  re- 
port he  made  of  the  slate  of  the  colony,  the  king's 
council  despaired  of  reahzing  the  advantages  wjiich 
had  been  anticipated  from  it.  as  long  as  it  remained 
on  its  tbrmer  looting,  and  determiiud  to  grant  the  ex- 
clusive commerce  of  Louisiana,  with  great  privileges, 
to  Anthony  Crozat,  an  eujinent  merchant. 

The  war  was  terminated  by  the  treaty  of  Utrecht, 
on  the  thirtieth  of  March  of  the  following  year:  by  its 
twelfth  article,  France  ceded  to  Great  Britain,  "No- 
va Scotia  or  Acadie,  with  its  ancient  boundaries,  as 
also  the  city  of  Port  Royal,  now  called  Annapolis,  and 
all  other  things,  in  the  said  parts,  wliich  depends  on 
these  lands." 

There  were  at  this  period  in  Louisiana  two  compa- 
nies of  infantry  of  fifty^  men  each,  and  seventy-five  Ca- 
nadian volunteers  in  the  king's  pay.  The  rest  of  tlie 
population  consisted  of  twenty-eight  families;  one  half 
of  whom  were  engaged,  not  in  agriculture,  but  in  hor- 
ticulture :  the  heads  of  the  others  were  shop  and  ta 
vern  keepers,  oremployedin  mechanical  occupations. 
A  rmmber  of  individuals  derived  their  support  by  mi- 
nistering to  the  wants  of  the  troops.  There  were  but 
twenty  negroes  in  the  colony:  adding  to  these  the 
king's  officers  and  clergy,  the  aggregate  amount  oi 
the  population  was  three  hundred  and  eighty  persons. 
A  i'ew  female  Indians  and  children  were  domestica- 
ted in  the  houses  of  the  white  people,  and  groups  of 
the  males  were  incessantly  sauntering,  or  encamped 
around  them. 

The  collection  of  all  these  individunls,  on  one  com- 
pact spot,  could  have  claimed  no  higher  appellation 
than  that  of  a  hamlet ;  yet  they  were  dispersed 
through  a  vast  extent  of  country,  the  parts  of  which 


It    1  .-1  A\ 


f. 

W' 

&^ 

■'r 

■      '     .    Y 

i. 

a 
'% 


174 


CHAPTER 


[1713 


!     if- 


were  separated  by  the  sea,  by  lakes  and  wide  rivers. 
Five  forts,  or  large  batteries,  had  been  erected  for 
their  protection  at  Mobile,  Biloxi,  on  the  Mississippi, 
and  at  Ship  and  Dauphine  Islands. 

Lumber,  hides  and  peltries,  constituted  the  ob- 
jects of  exportation,  which  the  colony  presented  to 
commerce.  A  number  of  woodsmen,  ov  coureitrs  de 
bois  from  Canada,  had  followed  the  missionaries,  who 
had  been  sent  among  the  nations  of  Indians,  between 
that  province  and  Louisiana.  These  men  plied  with- 
in a  circle,  of  a  radius  of  several  hundred  miles,  of 
which  the  father's  chapel  was  the  centre,  in  search  of 
furs,  peltries  and  hides.  When  they  deemed  they 
had  gathered  a  sutficient  quantify  of  these  articles, 
they  floated  down  the  Mississippi,  and  brought  them 
to  Mobile  where  they  exchanged  them  tor  European 
goods,  with  which  they  returned.  The  natives  near- 
er to  the  fort,  carried  on  the  same  trade.  Lumber 
was  easily  obtained  around  the  settlement:  of  late, 
vessels,  from  St.  Domingo  and  Martinique,  brought 
sugar,  coffee,  molasses  and  rum  to  Louisiana,  and 
took  its  peltries,  hides  and  lumber  in  exchange.  The 
colonists  procured  some  specie  from  the  garrison  of 
Pensacola,  whom  they  supplied  with  vegetables  and 
fowls.  Those  who  followed  this  sort  of  trade,  by  fur- 
nishing also  the  officers  and  troops,  obtained  flour  and 
salt  provisions  from  the  king's  stores,  which  were 
abundantly  supplied  from  France  and  Vera  Cruz. 
Trifling,  but  successful  essays  had  shown,  that  indi- 
go, tobacco  and  cotton  could  be  cultivated  to  great 
advantage:  but  hands  were  ^^ anting.  Experience 
had  shewn,  that  the  frequent  and  heavy  mists  and  fogs 
were  unfavourable  to  the  culture  of  wheat,  by  causing 
it  to  rust. 

The  French  had  been  unfortunate  in  the  selection 
of  the  places  they  had  occupied.     The  sandy  coa&t 


1  / 


13] 


THE  SEVENTH 


i^i 


[1713 

rivers, 
ed  lor 
ssippi, 

the  ob- 
ited  to 
reurs  de 
es,  who 
►etween 
2i\  with- 
niles,  of 
earch  ot 
ed  they 
articles, 
rht  tliem 
European 
^es  near- 
Lumber 
:  of  late, 
brought 
ana,  and 
,ge.    The 
irrison  ot 
^hles  anti 
le,  by  fur- 
flour  and 
ich  were 
fcra  Cruz, 
that  indi- 
d  to  great 
xperience 
and  fogs 
:>y  causing 


selection 
iiidy  coast 


of  Biloxi  is  as  sterile  as  llie  deserts  of  Arabia.  The 
stunted  shrubs  of  Ship  and  Daupine  Islands,  announce 
the  poverty  of  the  soil  by  which  they  are  nurtured. 
In  the  contracted  spot,  on  which  Sauvolle  had  located 
his  brother  on  the  Mississippi,  the  few  soldiers  un- 
der him,  insulated  during  part  of  the  year,  had 
the  mighty  stream  to  combat.  The  buz  and  sting  of 
the  musquetoes,  the  hissing  of  the  snakes,  the  croak- 
ings  of  tlie  frogs,  and  the  cries  of  the  alligators,  inces- 
santly asserted,  that  the  lease  the  God  of  nature  had 
given  these  reptiles  of  this  part  of  the  country,  had 
still  a  few  centuries  to  run.  In  the  barrens,  around 
the  new  fort  of  Mobile,  the  continual  su^h  of  the  nee- 
dle-leaved tree  seemed  to  warn  d'Artaguette  his 
people  must  recede  farther  from  the  sea,  before  they 
came  to  good  land. 

It  is  true,  during  the  last  ten  years,  war  had  in  some 
degree  checked  the  prosperity  of  the  colony,  al- 
though during  the  whole  of  its  continuance,  except 
the  descent  of  the  crew  of  a  privateer  from  Jamaica, 
no  act  of  hostility  was  committed  by  an  enemy  with- 
in the  colony ;  but  the  incessant  irruptions  on  the 
land  of  the  Indians,  under  the  protection  of  Louisia- 
na by  those  in  alliance  with  Carolina,  prevented  the 
extension  of  the  commerce  and  settlements  of  the 
French  towards  the  north.  Yet,  all  these  difficulties 
would  have  been  promptly  overcome,  if  agriculture 
had  been  attended  to.  The  coast  of  the  sea  abounded 
with  shell  and  other  fish;  the  lagoons  near  Mobile  ri- 
ver were  covered  with  waterfowls;  the  forests  teem- 
ed with  deer;  the  prairies  with  buiialoes, and  the  air 
with  wild  turkies.  By  cutting  down  the  lofty  pine 
trees  around  the  fort,  the  colonists  would  have  unco- 
vered a  soil,  abundantly  producing  corn  and  peas. 
By  abandoning  the  posts  on  the  Mississippi,  Ship  and 
Dauphine  Islands,  and  at   the  Biloxi,  the  necessary 


KS"  y 


w 


''I 


■  :  '•11 

;  'A- 

■  : '  Si- 
:  •  I '  ■ 
i    ■ ; 


I:  '» 


'f^ 


173 


ClfAPTFK 


[17  M 


military  ciuties  would  have  left  a  considerable  num- 
ber orindividuals  to  the  labours  of  tillage  ;  especially 
imprudence  had  spared  frecpjent  divisions  of  theai  to 
travel  for  thousands  of  miles  in  tjuest  of  ochres  and 
minerals,  or  in  the  discovery  of  distant  land,  while 
that  which  was  occupied,  was  sutlered  to  remain  un- 
productive. I'hus,  in  the  concerns  of  communities, 
as  in  those  of  individuals,  immediate,  leal  and  se- 
cure advantages  are  foregone,  for  distant,  dubious 
and  otten  visionary  ones. 

According  to  a  return  made  by  the  Marquis  do  Vau- 
dreuil  to  the  minister,  there  were,  at  this  period,  in 
New  France,  includirig  Acadie,  four  thousand  four 
hundred  ami  eighty  persons  capable  of  bearing  arms ; 
wliich  supposes  a  population  of  about  twenty-five 
thouftand. 

Charlevoix. — Laharpc. 


T7iyj  THE  EIGHTH  i7.9 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Chartf:r. — Lamottc  CmHlhc^  Duclos^  Lebas,  Dirigoiu,  La- 
lotra  drs  Ur^lns.-Stipcrior  Council. — Jlrrcuigements  with 
Ci'nzat... Hi >'  fdiiis. — AIisUH(lrrstamlin(i;  beticcen  the  new 
govrrnor  an(/  Ricnvilh. — Indians  — ('ard money  of  Ca- 
nada,—Part  of  the  Choctaws  drawn  tu  the  British. — Fort 
''Joiilohsp. — St.  [)emjs. — fhon^e  I. — Lamofte  Cadil- 
lac irocs  to  fhn  Illinois  in  search  of  a  silver  mine.,  and  is 
dis'ipnoin/rtl. —  The  Choctaws  are  prevailed  onto  drive 
thn  Bri  ish  traders  from  their  villa<i;es. — Massacre  of  the 
Indians  in  Sonth  Carolina. — Bienville  reconciles  the 
C/toitaws.—^'^rrival  of  two  companies  of  infantry. — JMa- 

Tigny  de    Mandeville. Bagot. — Rouzant. — Bienville 

commandant-general  on  the  Mississippi. — Ships  from 
La  Rochdl"  and  Martinico  not  allowed  to  trade. — Louis 
XV.— The  Duke  of  Orleans.— The  Cherokees  attack  the 
French  on  the  Wabash. — Bienville  goes  to  the  Mississip- 
pi.— Has  a  conference  with  the  Chaouachas. — Reaches 
JYatchez. — As  informed  of  the  murder  of  two  Frenchmen, 
and  demands  the  head  of  a  Sun. — j^n  Indiati  consents  to 
die  in  his  room^  and  his  head  is  brought  to  Bienville.,  who 
refuses  to  receive  it. — The  same  deception  is  attempted 
with  as  little  success  on  the  next  day. — Six  pirogues  from 
the  Illinois  are  prevented  from  falling  into  the  hands  of 
the  Indians. — YTiv'?  JSatchez  kill  one  of  their  chiefs^  who 
participated  in  the  murder. — Bienville  goes  to  their  vil- 
lage.— He  builds  Fort  Rosalie.,  and  leaves  a  garrison  in 
it. — One  of  CrozaCs  ships  arrives  at  Mobile. — St.  De- 
nys''  return  fromMexico. — Re-establishment  and  new  mod- 
eling of  the  Superior  Council. — Ordinance  relating  to  re- 
demptioncrs and  muskets. —  Delery,  Lafrcniere  and  Beau- 
lieu  go  on  a  tradiuir  journey  to  the  Spanish  provinces. — 
Dutisne  goes  ivith  a  detachment  to  build  a  fort  at  A'at- 
Lou.  f.  23 


i   ♦ 

m 

R 

■t\i 

m 

\nt 

■■^■: 

vjt 

1  ■'» 

"*'   ■  t 

1 

'  1 "  i 

«!J 

i^,  ' 

■■■'' 


',*>l 


fP- 


r.  MMi 


1  ",  <■' 


CIIAPTCR 


[171 


m\ 


V  i'J 


chifockcs. — UEpinai  and  Hvbcrf,  mid  three  cowpnnies 
of  infantry  arrive. — JS'cw  colonists.—Trefvnlaine^  Gimcl^ 
Dubrciiil  and  Mossy. — The  bay  of  Shi j>  Isbind  is  stopped 
up. — Alisniidersldtidiiifi^  between  lUe7iville  and  UEpinai 
and  Hubert. — CrozaCs  a^'cnts  make  a  last  but  unsuccess- 
ful attempt  to  trade  ivifh  Vera  Cruz. — lie  surrenders 
his  privilege. 

CROZAT'S  charter  bears  date  the  twenty-sixth  of 
September,  1712. 

Ity  preamble  states,  that  the  attention  the  king  has 
always  given  to  the  interests  and  commerce  ot'  his 
subjects,  induced  him,  notwithstanding  the  almost 
continual  wars  he  was  obhged  to  sustain,  since  the 
begiiming  of  his  reign,  to  seek  every  opportunity  oi 
hicreasing  and  extending  the  trade  of  his  colonies  in 
America;  that,  accordingly,  he  had  in  lbB3,  given 
ortlers  for  exploring  the  territory  on  the  northern 
continent,  between  New  France  and  New  Mexico; 
and  Lasane,who  had  been  employed  in  this  service, 
had  succeeded  so  far,  as  to  leave  no  doubt  of  the 
facility  of  opening  a  communication  between  Canada 
and  the  gulf  of  Mexico,  through  the  large  rivers  that 
flow  in  the  intermediate  space;  which  had  induced 
the  king,  immediately  alter  the  peace  of  Riswick  to 
send  thither  a  colony  and  maintain  a  garrison,  to 
keep  up  the  possession  taken  in  1683,  of  the  territory 
on  the  gulf,  between  Carolina  on  the  east,  and  old 
and  new  Mexico  on  the  west.  But,  war  having 
broke  out  soon  after  in  Europe,  he  had  not  been  able 
to  diMW  from  this  colony  the  advantages  he  had  an- 
ticipated, because  the  merchants  of  the  kingdom, 
engaged  in  maritime  commerce,  had  relations  and 
concerns  in  the  other  I"  rencli  colonies,  which  they 
could  not  rf'liiKjuish. 

The  king  declares  that,  on  the  report  made  to  hirtt 


I'  < 


1713] 


THE  HIGHTll 


170 


of  tlio  situation  of  tlic  tcM-ritory,  now  known  as  the 
proviiic(3  of  Louisinna,  ho  has  Jetcrmineul  to  rstab- 
lish  there  a  commeree,  which  will  be  very  honeficial 
to  France  ;  it  being  now  necessor^  to  seek  in  foreign 
countries  many  articles  of  comtnerce,  which  may  be 
obtained  there,  for  mertliantlize  of  the  growth  or 
manufacture  of  the  kingdom. 

He  accordingly  grants  (o  Cr^^zat  the  exchisive 
commerce  of  all  the  territory,  poss(?ssed  by  the 
crown,  between  old  and  new  Mexico,  and  Carolina, 
and  all  the  settlements,  ports,  roads  and  rivers  there- 
in— |)rincipally  the  port  and  road  of  Dauphine  Island, 
before  called  Massacre  Island,  the  river  St.  Louis, 
previously  called  the  Mississippi,  from  the  sea  to  the 
Illinois,  the  river  St.  Philip,  before  called  Missouri, 
the  river  St.  Jerome,  betbre  called  the  Wabasli,  with 
all  the  land,  lakes  and  rivers  mediately  or  immed- 
iately flowing  into  any  part  oi  the  river  St.  Louis  or 
Mississippi. 

The  territory,  thus  described,  is  to  be  and  remain 
included,  under  the  style  of  the  government  of  Louis- 
iana, and  to  be  a  dependence  of  the  government  of 
New  France,  to  which  it  is  to  be  subordinate.  The 
king's  territory,  beyond  the  Illinois,  is  to  be  and  con- 
tinue part  of  the  government  of  New  France,  to  which 
it  is  annexed  ;  and  he  reserves  to  himself  the  faculty 
of  enlarging  that  of  Louisiana. 

The  right  is  given  to  the  grantee,  to  export  from 
France  into  Louisiana,  all  kinds  of  goods,  wares  and 
merchandize,  during  fifteen  years,  and  to  carry  on 
there  such  o  commerce  as  he  may  think  fit.  All 
persons,  natural  or  corporate,  are  inhibited  from 
trading  there,  under  pain  of  the  confiscation  of  their 
goods,  wares,  merchandize  and  vessels:  and  the 
officers  of  the  king  are  commanded  to  assist  the 
grantee,  his  agents  and  factors,  in  seizing  them. 


"I 

■    Vl 


1         I   ►    . 


I     ■ 

fit 

1. 

i  4 

'  1 
■     i 

■  *1 


i  '.■« ' 


189 


CHAPTFR 


I  1  7  1  :^ 


Permission  is  ^'\vi^x\  him  to  opon  nnl  work  mines, 
and  to  export  the  on*  to  rriiiiec  diiri'm-  (il'lcni  yeJirs. 
The  prop<'rly  ot  all  the  miiies,  \\r  may  diseoxer  and 
Avork,  is  •iiven  him:  yi<l(lii'!i  to  llif  kii  tc  llie  louilh 
part  ofthe  gold  andsilNcr.  to  hrdrlivered  in  Fra;ie<', 
at  the  cost  ol"  the  (grantee,  hnt  at  tl;(^  risk  ottlie  kini;-, 
and  Ihe  t<Mith  p  irt  of  alt  other  metals.  He  may 
search  for  prescions  stones  and  p<'arls.  yielding  lo  ihe 
king  one-tilth  of  them,  in  the  same  manner  as  gold 
ami  silver.  Provision  is  made  for  the  re-niiion  of  ihe 
iting's  domain  of  such  mines  as  may  cease  during  three 
years  to  he  worked. 

Liberty  is  given  to  the  grantee,  to  sell  to  the  Trench 
and  Indians  of  i^ouisiana.  such  goods,  wares  and  mer- 
chandize as  he  may  import,  lo  the  exclusion  ot"  all 
others,  without  his  express  and  written  ordiM-.  He  is 
allowed  to  pnrchasi'  and  export  to  Trance,  hides, 
skins  and  peltries.  But,  to  favour  the  trade  ofCanada, 
he  is  forbidden  to  purchase  heaver  skins,  or  to  ex- 
port them  to  France  or  elsewhere. 

The  absolute  property,  in  fee  simple,  is  vested  in 
him  of  all  the  establishments  and  manufactin-es  he 
may  make  in  silk,  indigo,  wool  and  leatlier.  and  all 
the  land  he  may  cultivate,  with  all  buildings,  ike. ; 
he  taking  from  the  governor  and  intendant  grants, 
which  are  to  become  void,  on  the  land  ceasing  to  l)e 
improved. 

The  laws,  edicts  and  ordinances  of  the  realm,  and 
the  custom  of  Paris  are  extended  to  Louisiana. 

The  obligation  is  imposed  on  the  grantee  to  send 
yearly  two  vessels  from  France  to  Louisiana,  in  each 
of  which  he  is  to  transport  two  boys  or  girls,  and  the 
king  may  ship  free  from  freight  twenty-five  tons  of 
provisions,  ammunition,  «&c.  for  the  use  of  the  colony, 
and  more.  p;)\  ing  freight:  and  passage  is  to  be  afford- 


1713] 


THE  EfClITIl. 


181 


e<l  lotfie  king's  oflicci*s  and  soldiers  lor  a  fixed  com- 
pensation. 

One  hundred  <jnintals  of  powder  are  to  be  furnish- 
ed annually  to  the  graiitee,  out  of  the  king's  stores, 
at  cost. 

An  exempt ioji  from  duties  on  the  grantee's  goods, 
wares  and  merchandize,  imported  to,  or  exported 
from  Louisiana,  is  allowed. 

'J'he  king  promises  to  permit,  if  he  thinks  it  proper^ 
the  importation  of  foreign  goods  to  Louisiana,  on  the 
ap|)lication  of  the  grantee,  and  the  production  of  his 
invoices,  kc. 

The  use  is  given  him  of  the  boats,  pirogues  and 
canoes,  belonging  to  the  king,  for  loading  and  unload- 
ing :  he  keeping  and  returning  them,  in  good  order, 
at  the  expiration  of  his  grant. 

The  faculty  is  allowed  him  to  send  annually  a  ves- 
sel to  Guinea,  for  negroes,  whom  he  may  sell  in  Louis- 
iana, to  the  exclusion  of  all  others. 

After  the  expiration  of  nine  years,  the  grantee  is  to 
pay  the  field  oMicers  and  garrison  kept  in  Louisiana, 
and  on  the  occurrence  of  vacancies,  commissions 
are  to  be  granted  to  oificers  presented  by  the  gran- 
tee, if  approved. 

A  fifty  gun  ship,  commanded  by  the  Marquis  de  la 
Jonquere,  landed  at  IJauphine  Island,  on  the  seven- 
teenth of  May,  1713,  the  ofiicers  who  were  to  admin- 
ister the  government  of  the  colony  under  the  new 
system. 

The  principal  oi'  these  were,  Lamotte  Cadillac, 
an  olficer  who  had  served  with  distinction  in  Canada, 
during  the  precL'ding  war,  who  was  appointed  gov- 
ernor;  Duclos,  co.nmissiry  ordomiateur;  l^ebas, 
comptroller;  Dirigoin,  the  principd  director  of  Cro- 
zat's  concerns  in  Louisiana,  and  Laloire  des  Ursins. 
who  was  to  attend  to  them  on  the  Mississippi. 


I 


\n': 


CIIAPTKR 


I7i. 


1-1 


The  ship  brought  a  very  largr  slock  of  provisioiiK 
and  goods. 

The  governor  and  commissary  onloiinatrur,  hy  an 
edict  ot  the  cigliUMMilli  of  l)cccnd)cr,  of  the  preced- 
ing year,  had  been  constituted  a  superior  council, 
vested  witli  the  same  powers  as  the  councils  of  St. 
Domingo  and  i\hirlinico;  but  the  existence  of  this 
tribunal  was  limited  to  tliree  years  from  the  day  of  its 
meeting. 

The  expenses  of  the  king  for  the  salaries  of  his 
officers  in  Louisiana,  were  hxed  at  an  annual  sum  of 
ten  thousand  dollars.  It  was  to  be  paid  to  Crozat  in 
France,and  the  draftsof  the  commissary  ordonnateur, 
were  to  be  paid  in  Crozat's  stores,in  cash,  or  in  goods, 
with  an  advance  of  fifty  per  cent.  Sales  in  all  other 
cases  were  to  be  made,  in  these  stores,  at  an  advance 
of  one  hundred  percent. 

Commerce  was  Crozat's  principal  object,  and  he 
contemplated  carrying  it  on  chiefly  with  the  Span- 
iards. His  plan  was  to  have  large  warehouses  on 
Dauphine  island,  and  to  keep  small  vessels  plying 
with  goods  to  Pensacola,  Tampico,  Touspe,  Cam- 
peachy  and  Vera  Cruz.  His  designs  were  however 
frustrated ;  the  Spaniards,  after  the  peace,  refusing 
admittance  to  French  vessels  in  those  ports,  on  the 
solicitation  of  the  British,  to  whom  the  king  had 
granted  privilege  by  the  treaty  of  the  Assiento. 

He  had  recommended  to  Lamotte  Cadillac,  to 
whom  he  had  given  an  interest  in  his  concerns  in 
Louisiana,  to  send  a  strong  detachment  to  the  Illinois, 
and  towards  the  Spanish  settlements  in  the  west,  to 
be  employed  in  the  search  of  mines  and  the  protec- 
tion of  his  commerce. 

The  benefits,  which  the  French  government  had 
anticipated  from  a  change  of  administrators  in  Louis- 
iana, were  not  realized.     An  unfortunate  misunder- 


sioiiH 

)y  ail 
[•ct'd- 
imcil, 
of  St. 
f  this 
oi'  its 

of  his 
>um  of 
>z{it  in 
lateur, 
goods, 
I  other 
Ivancc 

and  he 
:  Span- 
ises  on 

plying 
Cam- 
jwcver 
cfusing 

on  the 

g   had 

). 

lac,  to 
Crns  in 

Uinois, 

est,   to 
rotec- 

tnt  had 

I  Louis- 

under- 


1714] 


TIIK  r.IGHTir 


1*3 


*<tandinpj  took  place  hct\v<»en  llie  new  governor  afid 
Hienville — ihe  fornuT  heing  jealous  of  the  allectiori, 
which  the  soldiers  and  Indians  manifested  to  the 
latter. 

lia  liouisiane,  a  ship  helonging  to  Crozat,  arrived 
in  the  yurninc»r.  with  a  l;«rg<'  supply  of  provisions  and 
gooiis,  and  luought  a  eoMsiderahUMiUud)er  of  passen- 
gers. 

hi  the  course  of  tlie  winter,  deputations  from  most 
of  th<'  iieighhouring  nations  of  Indians  came  to  visit 
and  solicit  the  protection  of  the  new  cliiefof  the 
colony. 

Canada  was  so  overwhelmeil,  hy  repeated  emis- 
sions of  card  money,  and  the  consecjuent  ruin  and 
distress  was  so  great,  that  the  planters  and  merchants 
united  in  a  petition  to  the  king,  for  the  redemption  ol 
the  cards  at  one  half  ol' their  nominal  value,  ollering 
to  lose  the  other. 

The  British  of  Cjirolina,  after  the  peace  of  Utrecht, 
gave  a  great  extension  to  their  commerce  with  the 
Indians  near  the  hack  settlements  of  the  province. 
Their  traders   iiad  erected  storehouses  among  the 
trihes,  in   alliance    with  the   French,  as  far  as  the 
Natchez  and  the  Yazous.     The  Choctaws  were  so 
attached  to  the   French,  that  they  had    heretofore 
refused   to  allow  tlie  British  to  trade  among  them. 
In  the  spring,  however,  a  party  of  the  British,  heading 
two  thousand  Indians  of  the  Alihamons,  Talapouches 
and  Chickasaws.  came  among  the  Choctaws;  they 
were  received  in  thirty  of  the  villages:  two  only  re- 
i'using  to  admit  them.     Violence   being  threatened 
against  the  minority,  tlie  Choctaws  of  these  two  vil- 
lages, built  a  fort,  in  which  they  collected,  bidding 
defiance  to  their  countrymen,  the  British  and  their 
allies.     They  held  out  lor  a  considerable  time :   at 
l;\st,  on  the  eve  of  being  overwhelmed,  they  escaped 


r 

T 

Ti, 

1 

f 

<  I 

4 

t. 

5 

ff 


f   ;: 


184 


CHAPTER 


[17]' 


m 


Ik 


during  the  night,  and  made  their  way  to  the  French 
ibrt  at  Mohile,  where  Ihey  were  cordially  greeted. 

While  the  bulk  of  the  Choctaws  were  thus  divert- 
ed to  the  British,  the  Alibamoris  testified  their  at- 
tachment to  the  French,  by  aiding  them  to  build  a 
fortress  on  their  river.     It  w;is  called  F^ort  Toulouse. 

Lamotte  Cadillac,  being  disappointed  in  his  hope 
of  trading  with  the  Spanish  ports  on  the  gulf,  marie  in 
the  summer,  an  attempt  to  find  a  vent  for  Crozat's 
goods,  in  the  int<M'ior  parts  of  iMexi(;o.  Mis  object 
also  was  to  check  the  progress  of  ifie  .Spaniards, 
whom  he  understood,  were  preparing  to  advance 
their  settlements  in  the  province  of  Te\as,  to  .he 
neighbourhood  of  Nalchiloches.  St.  Denys  was  there- 
fore sent  with  a  large  quantity  of  goods,  attended  by 
thirty  Canadians  nnd  some  JnJians,  on  this  service. 

In  tlie  month  of  August,  Queen  Amie,  ol  Greal 
Britain,  died  at  the  age  of  fifty,  without  i^suo,  al- 
though she  had  given  birth  to  nineteen  children. 
She  was  the  sixth  and  last  sovereign  of  the  house  of 
Stuart.  The  crown,  according  to  a  statute  for  the 
exclusion  of  the  children  of  James  the  second,  passed 
to  George,  elector  of  Hanover,  a  grand-son  of  princess 
Sophia,  grand -daughter  of  James  the  first. 

The  discovery  of  mines  of  the  precious  metals  was 
a  darling  object  with  Lamotte  Cadillac,  and  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  winter,  his  cre«lulity  was  powerfully 
acted  upon.  A  man,  named  Dutigne,  came  from 
Canada,  bringing  from  the  Illinois  two  pieces  of  ore, 
which  he  asserted  had  been  dug  up  in  tlie  neighbour- 
hood of  the  Kaskaskias.  The  go\ernor  had  them 
assayed,  and  they  were  found  to  contain  a  great 
proportion  of  silver.  Elated  at  the  discovery,  and 
eager  to  secure  what  he  considered  as  a  rich  mine, 
he  sat  off  for  the  Illiiiois,  without  disclosing  the  cause 
of  his  sudden  departure,  and  had  the  mortification  to 


nil 

•neb 
1. 

r  at- 
iia  a 
Duse. 
hope 
L(le  ia 
jzat's 
>bject 
iarJB, 
vanee 
o  the 
th'M-c- 
led  by 
ice. 
Greai 
lie,  al- 
liUhcii. 
J use  oi 
lor  the 
passed 
liiicess 

[lis  was 

in  the 

ertully 

tVoni 
lot'  ore, 
jliboui- 
il  them 

great 
y.  and 
Ih  mine. 
|c  cause 
lation  to 


1716] 


THE  EKiHTH 


180 


..W 


learn  on  his  arrival,  that  the  pieces  ot"  ore,  which 
Dutiji;ne  had  brought  down,  came  from  Mexico,  and 
liad  been  lelt  as  curiosities,  by  a  ^-paniard,  with  a 
gentleman  at  the  IHinois,  from  whom  Dutigne  had 
received  them.  Disappointed  in  his  hope  of  the 
silver  mine,  he  visited  mines  of  lead  on  the  western 
side  of  the  Mississippi,  and  returned  to  Mohile,  with- 
out boasting  ol' the  object  of  his  errand. 

The  Hritisli,in  I  he  meanwhile,  were  progressing  fast 
in  their  plan  of  establishing  truckhouses  among  the 
(/hoctaws,  Natchez,  Yazons  and  other  nations  on  the 
Mississippi.  Bienville  had  sent  tor  the  principal 
chiefs  of  theChoctaws;  he  upbraided  tliem  for  their 
treachery;  urging  that  the  French  were  the  oidy  peo- 
ple, from  whom  they  could  conveniently  get  the  goods 
they  wanted,  as  the  British  were  at  a  comparative 
great  distance  from  their  villages.  He  prevailed  on 
(hem  to  draw  off  all  conmiunication  with  them  and 
the  Itidians  in  their  alliance.  The  Choctaws  kept 
their  word,  and  on  their  return  drove  oflTevery  British 
trader  Irom  their  villages. 

An  olficer  of  the  name  of  Young,  a  native  of  South 
Carolina,  who  was  then  with  the  Choctaws,  made  his 
way  to  the  Natchez,  and  descended  the  Mississippi, 
with  the  view  of  inducing  the  Oumas,  Pascagoulas, 
Chouachas  and  Colapissas,   to  enter  into  an  alliance 
with  his  nation.     Laloire  des  Ursins,  Crozat's  prin- 
cipal agent  on  the  river,  went   up  in  a   pirogue  to 
meet  the  intruder.     He  tbund  him  near  Bayou  Man- 
chac,  arrested  and  sent  him  a  prisoner  to  Mobile, 
Bienville    allowed    him   to    proceed    to   Pensacola, 
whence  he  attempted  to  reach  Carolina  by  land,  but 
was  killed  by  some  of  the  Thome  Indians. 

While  Bienville  was  thus  successful  in  preserving 
the  attachment  of  the  Choctaws  and  the  natives  on 
the  Mississippi,  he  had  the  pleasure  of  learning  that 
T.or.  I.  24 


■lot; 


CllAriEK 


[1710' 


X  ■: 


the  Indians  bordering  0!i  Carolinu,  imitating  the 
Clioetavvs,  had  turned  against  the  Britisli,  and  invad- 
ed the  frontier  settlements  of  that  province.  The 
Yamassees,  the  Creeks  and  Apahichians  spread  de- 
solation and  slaughter  in  the  south;  while  the  Cher- 
okees,  Congarees  and  Catawhas,  ravaged  the  north- 
ern part.  It  was  computed  the  cneuij  were  between 
seven  and  eight  thousand  strong.  Indeed  every  tribe 
from  Florida  to  Cape  Fear,  liad  engaged  in  tlie  war. 
The  security  of  Charleston  was  doubted.  It  had  no! 
more  than  twelve  hundred  men  lit  to  bear  arras ; 
but  there  were  several  forts  near  it,  which  offered 
places  of  refuge.  Governor  Craven  marched  with 
his  small  force  against  the  enemy,  who  had  advanced 
as  far  as  Stono,  where  thoy  burnt  the  church,  as  they 
did  every  house  on  their  way.  'I'he  governor  ad- 
vanced slowly  and  with  caution,  and  as  he  proceed- 
ed, the  straggling  parties  (led  belbre  him.  till  he 
reached  the  Haltketchers,  where  the  Indians  had 
pitched  their  great  camp.  Here  a  sharp  battle 
ensued.  The  Indians  were  repulsed  and  the  gover- 
nor pursued  them  over  the  Savannah  river.  It  is 
said  the  province  lost,  in  this  war,  upwards  of  eight 
hundred  men,  women  and  children.  The  Vamasee>; 
^vere  driven  iVom  the  land  they  had  heretofore  occu- 
pied, behind  Port  IJoyal  Island,  on  the  northeast  sid<» 
of  the  Savannah  river.  Tliev  settled  in  the  neijrh- 
bourhood  of  the  Spaniards,  by  whom  the  British  al- 
legeil  they  had  been  instigated. 

An  otficer  of  the  garrison  of  Mobile,  called  Si 
Helen,  who  happened  to  be  in  a  village  of  the  Chick- 
asaws,  in  which  were  lifteen  British  traders,  was 
protected  by  a  Choctaw  chief,  while  these  men  were 
killed:  but.  being  mistaken  tor  one  of  them,  by  a  young 
Indian  who  entered  the  cabin  he  was  in,  while  he 
stoop  I'd  to  light  a  cigar,  he  was  slain. 


l>'  1' 


i  715] 


THE  EIGHTII. 


in: 


Bienville  forwarded  presents  io  the  Indians,  who 
had  seceded  from  the  British  alliance,  and  directed 
his  messengers  to  indnce  them  to  send  to  Mobile 
some  of  their  head  men,  with  whom  a  treaty  might  be 
made. 

The  Indians  of  the  two  villages  of  the  Choctaws, 
who  had  remained  steadfast  in  tlieir  friendship  for 
the  French,  were  still  in  the  very  neighbonrhood  of 
Mobile.  Bienville  sent  word  to  the  chiefs  of  the 
other  villages,  he  would  not  confide  in  them  as 
friends,  but  cease  to  have  any  communication  with 
them,  if  they  persisted  in  refusing  to  receive  their 
countrymen.  He  required  them  to  send  him  the 
head  of  Ousachoutie  (the  brother  of  the  principal 
chief)  who  had  been  most  aciive  in  introducing  the 
British  traders,  and  fomenting  the  civil  war.  The 
Choctaws,  after  some  debate,  slew  the  obnoxious 
chief,  and  sent  for  their  countrymen  of  the  two  vil- 
lages. 

In  the  summer,  the  garrison  was  reinforced  by  two 
companies  of  infantry,  commanded  by  Marigny  de 
Mandeville  and  Bagot.  With  them  came  Rouzeau, 
s'^ai  to  succeed  Dirigoin,  as  principal  director  of 
Cro'^at's  concerns  in  Louisiana. 

At  the  same  time,  Bien\ille  received  the  commis- 
sion of  commander-general  of  all  the  establishments 
on  the  Mississippi,  and  the  rivers  flowing  into  it. 

A  ship  from  La  Rochelle,  and  another  from  Mar- 
tinico,  came  to  Dauphine  Island  to  trade.  They 
were  not  permitted  to  land  any  goods,  as  this  would 
have  been  a  violation  of  Crozat"s  privilege. 
,  Louis  the  fourteenth  died  on  the  first  of  September, 
in  his  seventy-seventh  year,  and  was  succeeded  by  his 
grand-son,  Louis  the  fifteenth.  The  new  monarch 
being  in  his  sixth  year  only,  his  uncle,  the  Duke  of 
Orleans,  governed  the  kingdom,  during  the  minority. 


l8o 


ClfAPTEK 


LI7I0 


■5 


The  Choroki'os  fell,  in  the  Ix'g'nming  of  tlic  next 
year.  011  tlie  Frencli  settleinenls  on  the  \Val)nsli.  and 
killed  two  men.  named  Uanisnv  and  Lon^euil.  The 
I'alher  of  ihe  latter,  who  was  the  kind's  lieutenant  at 
Montreal,  induced  the  Iroquois  to  deelare  war  ajiiainst 
the  Cherokecs.  It  was  proseeuled  wiih  mueh  vigour 
for  a  considerable  time,  and  ended  in  the  rout  ol  the 
latter. 

In  execution  of  the  kind's  order,  Bienville  assumed 
the  command  of  the  estahlishments  on  the  Missi»ippi. 
A  few  French  stragj>;lers  had  settled  anioi:^  Itie 
Tunicas,  Natchez,  Vazous  and  Baya<>oiilas,  and  we 
have  seen  that  clergymen  from  Caiiad;',  visited,  at 
times,  these  tribes,  as  missionaries,  and  r^onie  of 
them  had  located  themselves  among  thrse  hidians: 
but  there  was  as  yet,  but  one  small  fort  on  the  mighty 
Btream,  not  tar  from  the  sea.  He  was  instrueU'd  to 
erect  two  others — one  among  the  Natchez,  and  the 
other  on  the  Wabash.  I'he  comieetion  of  Louisiana 
with  Canada  was  a  favourite  object  at  court,  and  it 
had  been  very  strongly  recommended  to  both  the 
colonial  governments.  There  was  already  a  consi- 
derable population  on  that  river,  with  whom  the  Ca- 
nadians kept  a  regular  intercoi.rse,  by  their  hunts- 
men or  coureurs  de  bois  ;  this  rising  settlement 
aftbrded  also  a  commodious  resting  place,  to  emi- 
grants from  Canada  to  Louisiana. 

Laloire  des  Ursins,  who  lived  in  the  fort  on  the 
iVIississippi.  as  director  ol"  Crozat's  concerns  on  the 
river,  had  built  six  large  pirogues  ior  the  intended 
expedition,  and  Bienville  having  reached  the  ibrt 
with  a  detachment,  ordered  his  men  to  proceed  to 
the  landing  of  the  Tunicas.  These  Indians  had 
lately  removed  to  the  banks  oi"  a  lake,  which  empties 
in  the  Mississippi,  through  a  bayou,  to  which  they 
gavo  their  name,  which  it  still  retains. 


I' 


II7IG 

ic  noxt 
bli,  and 
.     The 

'Uiiiit  at 
aiiaiust 
1  viootir 
it  ol  tllP 


issiiiiifd 

Dl:g     the 

and  we 
sited,  nt 
noiae  of 
liiciiaiiH  : 
['  Miiiihty 
lU'U'd  to 

and  tlie 
ionisiana 
rt,  and  it 
l)oth   (lie 

a  eonsi- 
tlie  Ca- 

r  liunts- 

ttlemcnt 
to  eini- 

on  tlie 

IS  on  the 

ntended 

the  i'ort 

oceed  to 

ians   had 

1  empties 

ich  thev 


i7ir.) 


THE  EIGHTH. 


189 


Bienvillespent  a  few  days  with  Laloire  des  Ursins, 
in  order  to  liuve  a  <  onlerenee  with  tlie  head  men  ol 
the  Cdouaehas.  a  tribe  who  lived  a  little  below  the 
spot  on  wliieli  the  city  ol"  New  Orleans  is  built;  on 
reaching  his  delaehment,  he  was  inibrmed  the  Natch- 
ez had  lat<'ly  killed  two  Frenchmen,  and  stopped  and 
robbed  nine  Canadians,  who  were  descending  the 
river.  They  had  sent  a  messenger  to  solicit  their 
aid  in  resisting  tlie  French.  He  sent  an  interpreter 
to  the  Natchez,  directing  him  to  conceal  from  them 
Bienville's  knowledge  of  the  murder — and  to  request 
tliem  to  meet  him  on  friendly  terms  at  their  landing. 
In  the  iiojie  that  a  shew  of  confidence  might  induce 
him  to  overlook  what  had  happened,  when  he  was  in- 
formed oi"  it,  nineteen  of  these  Indians  attended  with 
the  nine  Canadi.ins.  Among  the  Ibrmer,  were  five 
suns  and  seven  villaore  chiefs. 

Bienville  had  pitched  his  tent  on  (he  bank  of  the 
Mississippi,  and  the  Indians, as  they  approached,  were 
told  they  could  not  be  received  as  friends  till  the 
death  ol  his  countrymen  was  expiated.  The  head  of 
the  deputation,  turning  towards  the  sun,  addressed 
tliaA  luminary  in  an  invocation,  which  ht;  seemed  to 
think  would  appease  Bienville,  to  whom  he  tendered 
the  calumet  of  peace.  He  was  told  no  reconciliation 
could  be  expected,  till  the  head  of  the  chief,  at  whose 
instigation  the  F^rench  had  been  killed,  was  brought 
to  the  camp.  He  replied  that  chiefvvas  a  grciit  war- 
rior and  a  sun.  On  this,  Bienville  had  him  and  some 
of  his  companions  arrested  and  put  under  guard  and 
in  irons. 

On  the  next  day,  the  captives  sent  a  messenger  to 
the  village  for  the  desired  head.  He  returned  with 
that  of  an  Indian,  who  had  consented  to  die  for  hi.*- 
chief:  but  Bienville,  having  been  apprised  of  the  de- 
<'eption,  refused  the  proffered   hcnul.     With  as  little 


''■"'■n 


190 


CHAP'I'Ell 


[ITIK 


nB'j 


*  '.;), 


!':» 


success,  the  same  imposition  was  attempted  the  fol- 
low ing  (lay. 

Tlie  Canadians  having  informed  Bienville  that  six 
pirogues  were  on  their  way  Iromthe  llhnois,an(l  would 
probahly  be  stopped  by  the  Indians,  if  timely  prce.iu- 
fions  were  not  taken,  a  canoe  was  despatcln  d  at 
night,  and  the  people  on  the  pirogues,  being  thus  ap- 
prised of  the  impending  danger,  were  enabled  to 
avoid  it. 

A  number  of  the  Natchez  came  io  Bienville's  camp 
and  surrendered  themselves,  (hisirous  to  lose  their 
lives,  that  they  might  in  the  next  world  wait  on  their 
captive  chiefs,  if  their  lives  were  not  spared.  He  told 
them  he  had  no  doubt  that  Longbeard,  one  of  his  pri- 
soners, had  been  concerned  in  the  murder,  and  was 
one  of  those  who  had  favoured  the  admission  of  the 
British  traders  among  the  Nalcliez ;  but,  as  he  had 
come  into  the  camp  of  the  French  as  a  messenger  of 
peace,  his  life  would  not  be  taken,  till  the  determina- 
tion oi  the  nation,  to  retuse  the  head  that  had  been 
demanded,  was  known.  The  Indians,  in  the  camp, 
however  expressed  their  wish  that,  as  he  was  a  tur- 
bulent fellow,  and  had  often  disturbed  their  tranquil- 
ity, he  might  be  sacrificed.  Bienville  declined  doing 
so,  until  he  had  the  consent  of  the  nation.  The  Indi- 
an was  however  secretly  dispatched,  by  liis  country- 
men, without  tbo  participation  of  any  of  the  white 
people. 

After  this,  Bienville  and  the  French  accompanied 
the  Indians  to  their  village.  The  property  of  the  Ca- 
nadians was  restored,  and  with  the  consent  of  the  Nat- 
chez a  fort  was  begun,  on  the  spot  which  Iberville 
had  before  chosen  tor  a  town.  It  was  called  Fort  Ro- 
salie, and  a  small  garrison  was  left  in  it,  under  the 
order  of  Pailloux,  in  the  latter  part  of  .Tune. 

One  of  Crozat's  ships  arrived  «it  Mobilr   in  the  to^^ 


pK 


i71(! 


THE  EIGHTH 


IHl 


loAviiijj;  month,  with  a  largo  supply  ofgooils  and  pro- 
visions; she  landed  twenty  passengers. 

After  a  journey  of  upwards  ottwo  years,  St.  Denys 
readied  Mohile,  in  the  month  of  August.  We  have 
seen  that  he  was  sent  in  171  1  into  the  internal  pro- 
vinces of  Spain,  for  the  doid)Ie  purpose  of  finding  a 
vent  for  Crozafs  goods,  and  cheeking  the  advances 
of  the  Spaniards,  wlio  were  preparing  to  form  settle- 
ments, in  the  neighbourhood  of  Natchitoches.  He 
had  reached  this  place,  with  his  Canadians  and  Indi- 
ans, without  accident.  He  employed  them  in  erect- 
ing a  i\'\\-  huts  for  some  of  the  Canadians  he  was  to 
leave  there,  and  having  engaged  some  individuals  of 
the  neighhouring  tribes  to  join  the  Natchitoches,  he 
supplied  them  with  a  few  implements  of  husbandry, 
and  useful  seeds.  Then,  taking  twelve  chosen  Cana- 
dians and  a  small  luunbei-  of  Indians,  he  left  Red  ri- 
ver and  marched  westerly.  After  journeying  for  twen- 
ty days  he  came  to  a  village  of  the  Assinais,  not  far 
from  the  spot  where  Lasalle  was  murdered,  about 
thirty  years  before.  There  he  obtained  guides,  who 
led  him  one  hundred  and  fifty  leagues  farther,  to  the 
easternmost  settlement  of  the  Spaniards  on  Rio  bravo; 
it  was  called  St.  John  the  Baptist,  or  Presidiodel 
Norte.  Don  Pedrod»'  Villescas,whocommanded there, 
received  the  French  with  much  hospitality.  St.  De- 
nys  informed  his  host  he  was  sent,  by  Lamotte  Cadil- 
lac, to  make  arrangements  for  a  commerce  that  might 
be  equally  benefici.d  to  the  Spanish  and  French  colo- 
nists. Don  Pedro  said  he  could  not  do  any  thing, 
without  consulting  the  governor  of  Caouis,  under 
whose  imme<Hat(^  orders  he  wm  .  This  officer  resi- 
ded at  the  distance  of  about  one  hundred  and  eighty 
miles,  and  on  receiving  a  communication  from  Don 
Pedro,  despatched  twenty-five  horsemen  to  bring  St. 
Denv'"*  to  him.     He  detained  htm  until  the  beginning 


Vj: 


(HAW  I'M 


fi7u; 


« 


of  17I;">,  wlu'U  he  informed  liini.that  Ur  <!oiisidcre(l  it 
his  duty  to  send  him  to  the  viceroy.  St.  Denys  heing 
about  io  depart,  wrote  to  his  eompaiiioiis,  v^hom  he 
had  left  at  the  Presidio  del  Norte  lo  return  to  Nat- 
chitoclies. 

Caouis  is  distant  Irom  Mexico  al)out  seven  liundred 
and  fifty  miles,  and  St.  Denys  w.is  conducted  by  an 
officer,  attcndif^d  by  twenty  horsemen.  On  [wa  arri- 
val in  the  capital,  the  \iceroy  sent  him  to  prison.  He 
was  enlarji^ed,  after  a  confinement  of  three  months,  at 
tlie  solicitation  of  several  Trench  oHicers,  in  th<'  ser- 
vice of  Spain.  The  viceroy  now  treated  him  with 
kindness,  and  made  every  effort  in  his  power  to  in- 
duce him  to  enter  the  service  of  the  Catholic  k\n^. 
Finding  his  endeavours  useless,  he  made  a  present  to 
St.  Denys  of  a  fine  horse  from  his  stable,  siippiiod  him 
with  money  and  sent  him  back  to  Caoui's,  from  whence 
he  proceeded  to  the  Presidio  del  Norte.  Don  Pedro 
was  much  afTected  at  the  removal  of  the  Indians  of 
five  neighbouring  villages,  who  fatigued  at  the  vexa- 
tions they  experienced  from  the  officers  and  t-oUliers 
of  the  garrison  of  the  Presidio,  had  determined  to  seek 
an  asylum  among  a  distant  tribe  of  Indians.  St.  De- 
nys offered  to  Don  Pedro  to  go  and  bring  them  back: 
he  soon  overtook  them,  as  their  children  and  bag- 
gage much  retarded  their  march.  Placing  a  white 
handkerchief  on  the  muzzle  of  his  musket,  as  soon  as 
he  perceived  them,  he  waved  it  as  a  token  of  liis 
friendly  intentions:  they  waited  his  approach,  lie 
placed  before  them  the  danger  they  ran,  in  removing 
among  Indians  who  were  utter  strangers  to  them,  and 
told  them  he  was  charged  by  Don  Pedro  to  assure 
them,  that,  if  they  would  re  occupy  their  villages,  nei- 
ther officers,  or  soldiers  of  the  Presidio,  would  be  suf- 
fered to  enter  any  of  them,  without  their  consent. 
They  agreed  to  return  with  him,  and  Don  Pedro,  who 


it. 


1 

p 

1 

f  "• 

1'    .. 

t.  1 

'Od  it 

being 

in  \\v 

Nat- 

ntlred 
by  an 
it  arri- 
n.  He 
iths,  at 
le  ser- 
1   with 
to  iii- 
(',  ki'js;. 
sent  to 
o(|  liim 
vlieuce 
I  INnlro 
liaiis  of 
e  vexa- 
oUliers 
o  seek 
St.  I)c- 
back: 
bag- 
white 
soon  as 
of  hi^ 
u.     He 
moving 
m,  and 
artsnre 
es,  nei- 
be  suf- 
^onsent. 
ro.  whcj 


I7IGJ 


THE  i:iGliTlf 


nr^ 


feared  that  tlie  departure  of  these  hidians  horn  t!ie 
nei<r|ibourbood  ofthe  Pr«?sitho  shoiihl  b(Mittrihuted  to 
his  ill  conduet  or  ncgioct,  was  gratitie<i  h)  iie  service 
St.  Denys  had  rendered  him. 

Durifig  the  short  interval  he  liiul  passed  h(^fore,  un- 
der Don  Pedro's  roof,  the  charms  of  the  Spaniard's 
daughter  had  made  a  lively  impression  on  St.  Denys, 
and  she  had  appeared  to  reciprocate  his  affection. 
He  now  pressed  his  suit,  and  obtained  her  hand.  He 
staid  six  months  with  her,  after  their  nuptials,  and  left 
her  pregnant,  returning  to  Mobile,  accompanied  by 
Don  Juan  de  Villescas,  her  uncle. 

Lamotte  Cadillac  was  now  convinced  that  a  com- 
merce with  the  Spaniards  was  as  impossible  by 
land  as  by  water;  and  he  apprised  Crozat  of  the 
inutility  of  any  further  attempt  either  way. 

The  period,  for  which  the  Superior  Council  of  Loui- 
siana had  been  established,  being  about  to  expire, 
the  king,  in  the  month  of  September,  re-established 
it  by  a  perpetual  and  irrevocable  edict.     It  was  how- 
ever, new  modelled,  and  to  be  composed  of  the  go- 
vernor general  and  intendant  ofNew  France,  the  go- 
vernor of  Louisiana,  a  senior  counsellor,  the  king's 
lieutenant,  two  puisne  counsellors  and  an  attorney- 
general  and  clerk.     The  edict  gives  to  the  council 
all  the  powers,  exercised  by  the  superior  councils  of 
other  colonies  :  principally  that  of  determining  all  ca- 
ses, civil  and  criminal,  in  the  last  resort,  and  without 
costs.     Its  sessions  are  directed  to  be  monthly,  and  a 
quorum  is  to  consist,  in  civil  cases  of  three  judges, 
and  in  criminal  of  live.     When  necessary,  in  the  ab- 
sence and  lawful  excuse  ofthe   members,  notables 
may  be  called  to  vacant  seats.  The  intendant  of  New 
France,  and,  in  his  absence,  the  senior  counsellor,  is  to 
act  as  president,  e\  on,  in  presence  of  the  governor- 
general  of  New  France,  or  tlie  governor  of  Louisiana. 

r,oe.  I.  2.0 


i( 


194 


(JllAl'TKll 


[i7ii; 


^'i>»' 


*i 


In  provis"K)inl  innttrrs,  (ixiiiir  of  seals,  making  invrnto- 
rirs,  <S:c.  llu?  senior  counsellor  i--  anlhorised  to  act 
asn  jndf^e  ortirsl  instance. 

'J'iiis  e(li(;t  nas  followed  on  the  sixteenth  of  Novem- 
ber, by  an  ordinance*  relatins;  to  redemptioners  and 
muskets;  it  was  not  confined  to  Louisiana.  Vessels, 
leaving  the  kingdom  lor  any  of  the  king's  American 
colonies,  were  directed  to  carry  thither,  if  under  six- 
ty tons  four,  and  if  above,  six  redemptioners,  whose 
period  of  service  was  tixed  at  three  years.  They  were 
required  to  be  able  bodied,  b<'tween  the  ages  of  se- 
venteen and  forty,  and  in  size  not  under  four  feet.  It 
was  provided  that  tlie  redemptioners,  whom  the  cap- 
lain  might  not  sell,  should  be  given  by  the  governor 
to  some  of  the  plariters  who  had  not  any,  and  who 
were  to  pay  their  passage. 

Crozat  having  recommended  that  notwitlistanding 
the  ill  success  of  St.  Denys,  in  his  attempt  to  open  a 
trade  with  the  Spanish  provinces  bordering  on  l^oui- 
siana,  the  project  should  not  be  abondoned  ;  three 
Canadians,  named  Delerv,  Latreniere  and  Beaulieu, 
were  supj)lied  with  goods  out  of  his  stores,  in  the 
month  of  October,  and  proceeded  by  the  way  of  Red 
river  to  the  province  of  New  Leon;  and  to  prevent 
the  Spaniards  from  o(;cupying  the  country  of  tlie  Nat- 
chitoches, among  whom  St.  Uenys  had  left  a  few  of 
his  countrymen,  a  detachment  was  placed  under  the 
orders  of  Dutisne,  w  ho  was  directed  to  huild  and  gar- 
rison a  tort,  amouic  these  Indians. 

Three  ot  Crozat's  ships  arrived  from  France  on  the 
ninth  of  March.  They  brouglit  TEpinai,  who  had 
been  appointed  governor,  and  Hubert  commissar) 
ordonnaleur.  Duclos,  whom  he  succeeded,  went  in 
that  capacity  to  St.  Domingo.  Three  companies 
of  infantry,  under  the  orders  of  De  Rome?  and  Gouis. 


)( 


1717J 


THi:  FMiUTU 


195 


and  CiWy  nrw  coloiiisls,  accoinpaiiiod  th(Mn,   among 
wlium  wore  'rr('lontaino,Gn(Mio(,l)nl)rtMiil  and  Mossy. 
L'Kpinii  brought  the  cross  ol'  St.  Louis  to   Bien- 
ville. 

The  Peaeork,  one  of  these  ships,  went  into  the  bay 
of  Ship  [sland.  on  the  entrance  of  which  they  found 
twenty-seven  feet  of  water;  and  two  days  after,  she 
was  unable  to  come  out.  without  being  indaden — the 
pass  being  entirtdy  stopped  up.  Alter  being  hght<'n- 
ed,  she  came  out  through  the  channel  of  the  lslan<l  of 
Grand  Go/ier;  , where  she  found  ten  leet  of  water. 
This  was  more  surprising,  as  since  the  arrival  oi  Iber- 
ville, nineteen  years  before,  no  alteration  had  been 
noticed. 

Another  of  the  ships  wa?;  sent  to  Havana  for  cattle; 
she  went  in  under  the  pretence  of  distress,  and  was 
allowed  three  days  to  refit  and  procur**  provisions. 
She  took  in  sixty  cows;  this  excited  surprise,  and 
it  bei[ig  Ibund  they  were  intended  for  Louisiana,  the 
captain-general  insisted  on  Ibrty-fivc  of  them  being 
re-landed. 

Although  the  services  of  Bienville  had  been  re- 
warded by  knightood,  the  arrival  of  PKpinni,  as  go- 
vernor gave  him  great  mortification.  Tl  e  oilicers  of 
the  garrison  were  attached  to  him,  and  observed 
their  new  chief  with  a  jealous  eye.  This  was  the 
source  of  an  unfortunate  schism  in  the  colony,  which 
for  a  while  <^heck€'d  its  progress.  Hubert,  who  was 
a  man  of  business,  sided  with  I'Epinai,  and  his  ani- 
mosity against  Bienville  went  so  far,  as  to  charge  him 
with  being  a  pensioner  of  Spain,  bribed  to  check  the 
progress  of  the  settlement. 

Crozat's  agents,  finding  but  little  vent  for  his  goods 
in  the  colony,  put  a  considerable  quantity  of  them  on 
board  of  one  of  his  ships,  which  they  sent  to  Vera 
Cruz,  under  the  impression  that  tliey  might  be  per- 


w-  r< 


I, 


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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


If  IM  IM 

■^  1^    1 2.2 


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/////    /  s  V^^if 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


1% 


CHAPTEll 


[171? 


mitted  to  land  them :  but  the  viceroy  was  found  in- 
flexible.   Her  cargo  was  worth  two  hundred  thousand 
dollars,  at  the  costs  in  France,  and  the  goods  had 
mostly  been  selected  with  the  view  of  being  sold  to 
the  Spaniards  at  Mexico,  and  Crozat  had  made  the 
attempt,  in  the  hope  of  providing  by  the  sale  of  these 
goods  the  means  of  discharging  large  sums  that  were 
due  to  the  troops  and  workmen.     On  the  return  of  the 
ship,  they  were  compelled  to  oflTer  to  these  people, 
in  discharge  of  their  claims,  articles  of  luxury  better 
suited  for  a  great  city,  than  for  a  rising  colony.  This 
excited  great  murmurs;  Crozat's  exclusive  privilege 
had  grown  very  unpopular  in  Louisiana.     The  colo- 
nial otficers,  who,  hcretolore  had  carried  on  an  inter- 
lope trade  with  Vera  Cruz,  Havana  and  Pensacola, 
viewed  with  jealousy  his  agents  and  the  new  admin- 
istrators, whom  he  had  strongly  attached  to  his  inte- 
rest, by  a  share  in  the  privilege. 

In  the  month  of  August,  Crozat  disappointed 
in  the  expectations  he  had  entertained,  surrendered 
his  grant  to  the  king.  He  complained  that  the  weak- 
ness of  the  colony  rendered  it  contemptible  to  the  In- 
dians, whom  it  could  not  prevent  from  incessantly 
waging  war  among  themselves,  whereby  no  trade 
could  safely  be  carried  on  with  them ;  that,  the  Brit- 
ish drew  nigher  and  nigher,  and  confined  the  French 
to  their  small  settlements  at  Mobile,  Biloxi  and  Dau- 
phine  Island — that  the  land  on  the  island,  and  near 
the  other  two  settlements,  was  sandy  and  sterile,  while 
the  rich  land  on  the  Mississippi  was  open  to  the  Brit- 
ish, whom  nothing  prevented  from  occupying  it.  The 
surrender  was  accepted  on  the  twenty-third — about 
five  years  from  the  date  of  the  charter. 

During  this  period,  neither  the  commerce  nor  agri- 
culture of  the  colony  was  increased.  The  troops  sent 
by    the   king,  and  the    colonists    who    came  from 


f 

c 

n 
a 
c 
I 


i,f ,,.,, 


[1717 

ind  in- 
jusaud 
Is  had 
sold  to 
ide  the 
)f  these 
at  were 
n  of  the 
people, 
'  better 
y.  This 
rivilege 
le  colo- 
ui  inter- 
nsacola, 
'  admin- 
lis  inte- 


17173 


THE  EIGHTH 


197 


France,  did  not  swell  its  population  to  more  than  se- 
ven hundred  persons  of  all  ages,  sexes  or  colour. 
Two  new  forts  were  erected  and  garrisoned ;  Fort 
Toulouse  among  the  Alibamons,  and  Fort  Rosalie 
among  the  Natchez. 

Arrangements  having  been  made  with  three  indi- 
viduals, of  the  names  of  Aubert,  Renet  anciltGayon, 
for  the  commerce  of  Canada,  which  were  to  expire 
with  the  current  year,  government  determined  on 
creating  a  company,  capable  of  carrying  on  the  com- 
merce of  Canada  and  Louisiana,  and  improving  the 
advantages  which  the  cultivation  of  the  soil,  in  these 
colonies  presented.  This  was  effected  a  lew  days  af- 
ter the  surrender  of  Crozat's  privilege  was  accepted. 

Chnrlevoix. — Laharpr. 


jpointed 
endered 
le  weak- 
0  the  In- 
essantly 
lo  trade 
the  Brit- 
French 
nd  Dau- 
md  near 
le,  while 
the  Brit- 
;it.  The 
— about 


nor  agri- 
ops  sent 
ine  from 


■f. 'J 


Itj 


198 


CHAPTER 


(i7r 


m 


CHAPTER  \X, 


■<i  ■" 


:iiii 


l'i!»A^    ': 


im 


Charter  of  the  Western  Company. — Card  money  of  Ca- 
nada.— Bienville.,  Hubert.,  Boisbriant. — JVeiv  Leon. — 
Bay  §f  St.  Joseph. — JVciv  Orleans. — Large  grants  of 
Land. — JVciv  Settlers. — Richbourg.,  Grandval. — ../Reces- 
sion of  population. — Laharpe. — Bizart. — Desertion. — 
Spaniards  defeated  on  the  Missouri. — UArchambault. 
St.  Denys. — Bay  of  St.  Bernard. — San  Fernandez. — 
JVew  Bhilipines. — Serigny. —  War  between  France  and 
England. — Pcnsacola  taken  and  retaken. — Dauphine 
Island. — ChampmesUn. — Pensacola  taken  again. — 
Superior  Council  and  Inferior  Tribunals. — ./?  Alineral- 
Oirist  sent  to  the  Illinois. — JVew  Biloxi. — Dutisne. — 
Delochon. — Mine. — Union  of  the  Western  and  Eastern 
Companies. — Proclamation  fixing  the  price  of  goods  and 
produce. — Laharpe. — Chickasaw  hostilities. — Illinois. — 
Repeal  of  the  edict  respecting  the  transportation  of 
Convicts  to  Louisiana. — Plague. — Father  Laval. — 
.JVatchitoches. — JVegroes. — Mines. — Choctaws  and  Jll- 
ibamons. — Jiccession  of  population. — Beaumonoir. — 
Bouteux. — Laloire. — Boispincl. — Bay  of  St.  Bernard. 
Head  Quarters  removed  to  JVew  Biloxi. — Girls  from 
the  Salpetriere. — Deserters. — German  Settlers. — Bel- 
lisle. — Survey  of  the  passes  of  the  Mississippi. — Guin- 
eaman. — Irruption  of  the  Spaniards  from  Santa  Fe. — 
Marigny  de  Mandeville. — D''Jlrensbourg. — German 
passengers. — Failure  of  Law. — Another  Guineaman. 

THE  charter  of  the  new  corporation  was  register- 
ed, in  the  Parliament  of  Paris,  on  the  sixtli  of  Sep- 
tember, 1717. 

It  is  to  be  distinguished  by  the  style  of  the  West- 
ern Company,  and  all  the  king's  subjects,  as  well  as 


1717J 


THE  NINTH. 


lyii 


corpor.ate  bodies  and    aliens,  are   allowed  to  take 
shares  in  it. 

The  exclusive  commerce  of  Louisiana  is  granted 
to  it,  for  twenty-live  years;  with  the  right,  also  ex- 
clusive, of  purchasing  heaver  skins  from  the  inhahit- 
ants  of  Canada,  from  the  first  of  January,  1718,  until 
the  last  day  of  the  year  1712;  and,  the  monarch 
reserves  to  himseH'  the  Ihculty  of  settling,  on  infor- 
mation to  he  ohtained  from  Canada,  the  numher  of 
skins  the  company  shall  be  bound  annually  to  receive 
from  the  inhabitants,  and  the  price  to  be  paid  there- 
foi-. 

All  the  other  subjects  of  the  king  arc  prohibited 
from  trading  to  Louisiana,  under  the  penalty  of  the 
confiscation  of  tlieir  merchandize  and  vessels:  but 
this  is  not  intended  to  prevent  the  inhabitants  from 
trading  among  tliemselves  or  with  the  Indians.  It  is 
likewise  prohibited,  to  any  but  the  company,  to  pur- 
chase, dining  the  same  period,  beaver  skins  in  Can- 
ada for  exportation,  under  the  penalty  of  the  forfeit- 
ure of  the  skins,  and  the  vessels  in  which  they  may 
be  shipped :  but,  the  trade  in  these  skhis  hi  the  in- 
terior is  to  contiime  as  heretofore. 

The  land,  coasts,  harbours  and  islands,  in  Louis- 
iana, are  granted  to  the  company,  as  they  were  to 
Crozat,  it  doing  faith  and  homage  to  the  king,  and 
furnishing  a  crown  of  gold  of  the  weight  of  thirty 
marks,  at  each  mutation  of  the  sovereignty. 

It  is  authorised  to  make  treaties  with  the  Indians, 
and  to  declare  and  prosecute  war  against  them  in 
case  of  insult. 

The  property  of  all  mines  it  may  open  and  work, 
is  granted  to  it,  without  the  payment  of  any  duty 
whatsoever. 

The  faculty  is  given  it  to  grant  land,  even  allod- 
ially,  to  erect  forts,  levy  troops  and  recruits,  even  in 


,.  ( 


'I- 'I 


,'0» 


CHAPTER 


171' 


.:! 


the  kingdom,  procuring  the  king's  permission  for  this 
purpose. 

It  is  authorised  to  nominate  governors,  and  the 
officers  commanding  the  troops,  who  are  to  be  pre- 
sented by  the  directors  and  commissioned  by  the  king, 
and  removable  by  the  company.  Provisional  com- 
missions may,  in  case  of  necessity,  be  granted,  to  be 
valid  during  six  months,  or  until  the  royal  commission 
arrive. 

The  directors  and  all  officers  are  to  take  an  oath  of 
fidelity  to  the  king. 

Military  officers  in  Louisiana  are  permitted  to 
enter  into  the  service  of  the  company,  and  others  to 
go  there  with  the  king's  license  to  serve  it.  All, 
while  in  its  service,  are  to  preserve  their  respective 
rank's  and  grades  in  the  royal  land  and  naval  forces: 
and  the  king  promises  to  acknowledge  as  rendered  to 
himself  all  services  ihey  may  render  to  the  company. 

Power  is  given  to  fit  out  ships  of  war  and  cast  can- 
non, and  to  appoint  and  remove  judges  and  officers  of 
justice  :  but  the  judges  of  the  superior  council  are  to 
be  nominated  and  commissioned  by  the  king. 

All  civil  suits,  to  which  the  company  may  be  a 
party,  are  to  be  determined  by  the  consular  jurisdic- 
tion of  the  city  of  Paris,  the  sentences  of  which  un- 
der a  fixed  sum,  are  to  be  in  the  last  resort :  those 
above  are  to  be  provisorily  executed  notwithstanding, 
but  without  prejudice  of  the  appeal,  which  is  to  be 
brought  before  the  Parliament  of  Paris.  Criminal 
jurisdiction  is  not  to  draw  with  it  that  of  the  civil 
matter. 

The  king  promises  not  to  grant  any  letter  of  dis- 
pensation or  respite  to  any  debtor  of  the  company; 
and  he  assures  it  of  the  protection  of  his  name,  against 
any  foreign  nation,  injuring  the  company. 

French  vessels  and  crews  alone,  are  to  be  employed 


I171-; 

for  this 

ind  the 
be  pre- 
\ie  king, 
\\  com- 
1,  to  be 
mission 

oath  of 

tted  to 
thers  to 
t.  All, 
pective 
tbrces : 
lered  to 
inpany. 
ist  can- 
ice  rs  of 
1  are  to 

ly  be  a 
iirisdic- 
ich  un- 
:  those 
anding, 
is  to  be 
riminal 
le  civil 

of  dis- 
npany ; 
against 

ployed 


1717] 


THR  NINTH. 


201 


by  it,  and  it  is  to  brino-  the  prod'ico  of  Louisiana,  into 
the  ports  of  tlie  kini!;dom.  All  goods,  in  its  vessels, 
are  to  bo  presumed  its  properly,  indess  it  be  shewn, 
they  were  shipped  witli  its  license. 

The  subjects  of  the  kifig,  removing  to  Louisiana, 
are  to  preserve  their  national  character,  and  their 
children  (and  those  of  European  parents,  professing 
the  Homan  Catholic  religion)  born  there,  are  to  be 
considered  as  natural  born  subjects. 

During  the  continuance  of  the  charter,  the  inhabit- 
ants of  Louisiana  are  exempted  from  any  tax  or  im- 
position, and  the  company's  gooils  from  duty. 

With  the  view  of  encouraging  it  to  build  vessels  in 
Louisiana,  a  gratification  is  to  be  paid  on  the  arrival 
ofeachol  them  in  France. 

Four  hundred  (juintals  of  powder  are  to  be  deliv- 
ered, annually,  to  the  company,  out  of  the  royal 
magazines,  at  cost. 

The  stock  is  divided  into  shares  of  five  hundred 
livres  each,  (about  one  hundred  dollars.)  Their  num- 
ber is  not  limited ;  but  the  company  is  authorised  to 
close  the  subscription  at  discretion.  The  shares  of 
aliens  are  exempted  from  the  droit  ctuubaine  and  con- 
fiscation, in  case  of  war. 

Holders  are  to  have  a  vote  for  every  fifty  shares. 
The  affairs  of  the  company  arc,  during  the  two  first 
years,  to  be  managed  by  directors  appointed  by  the 
king,  and  afterwards  by  others,,  appointed  triennially 
by  the  stock  holders. 

The  king  gives  to  the  company  all  the  forts,  mag- 
azines, guns,  ammunitions,  vessels,  boats,  provisions, 
&;c.,  in  Louisiana  ;  with  all  the  merchandize  surrend- 
ered by  Crozat. 

It  is  to   build   churches   and  provide    clergymen : 
Louisiana  is  to  remain  part  of  the  diocess  of  Quebec. 
It  engages  to  bring  in,  during  its  privilege,  six  thou- 
r.ou.  I.  2t) 


''■'■ 

;            ;■ 

''       '< 

■    ■  -t 

H      1; 

■•4"    0 


w 


'^V 


h')K 


','02 


CIIAPTHK 


fnjf; 


sand  whitt' [XTsoiis  and  three  lliousjind  iicfxrops  ;  l)ut 
it  irt  stipulated,  it  shall  not  hriiiu;  any  person  iVoni 
another  colony  without  the  license  of  the  •governor. 

Although  ihe  k'w^^  had  consented  to  redeem  the 
card  money  that  inundated  Canada,  accordinji;  to 
the  petition  ol  the  planters  and  merchants  oi"  that 
colony,  in  1713,  he  was  tardy  in  the  performance  of 
his  engagement,  and  it  was  not  till  this  year,  that  the 
circulation  ot"  it  w  as  stopped.  At  the  same  time,  the 
value  of  coin  there,  was  reduced  to  the  standard  of 
the  realm  ;  dearly  honght  experience  havino;  sliew  n 
that  the  rise  of  its  legal  value  had  not  a  tendency  to 
retain  specie  in  the  colony,  and  that  the  only  mean 
of  preventing  the  cxportatioji  of  it,  was  the  payment  of 
wliatever  was  imported,  in  the  produce  of  the  country. 

On  the  ninth  of  Fehruary,  1718,  three  of  the  com- 
pany's ships  arrived,  with  .as  jnany  companies  of 
infantry  and  sixty-nine  colonists,  Bolsbriant,  who 
came  in  this  ileet,  and  who  was  appointed  king's 
lieutenant  in  the  colonv,  was  the  hearer  of  Bienville's 
commission,  as  governor  ol"  the  province ;  TEpinai 
being  recalled.  Hubert  had  been  made  director- 
general  of  tlie  concerns  of  the  company  in  Louisiana. 
The  troops  and  the  inhabitants  generally  saw  with 
great  pleasure  the  chief  command  restored  to  Bien- 
ville, lie  had  spent  twenty  years  in  the  colony,  and 
was  well  acquainted  with  its  wants  and  resources. 

The  thiee  Canadians,  who  had  gone  on  a  trading 
expedition  to  the  province  of  New  Leon,  in  1716, 
returned  to  Mobile.  They  had  been  joined  by  St. 
Denys,  and  having  suppln^d  themselves  with  horses 
and  mules  at  Natchitoches,  they  journeyed  to  a  small 
village  of  the  Adayes,  which  had  but  thirty  warriors. 
Fording  the  river  here,  they  came  soon  after  to  a 
group  ol  about  ten  cjibins  of  the  Adeyches;  near 
w  hich  the  Spaniards  had  a  missiQti  composed  of  two 


'is 


M^ii 


t\ 


[ITif. 

oos  ;  but 
son  I'roni 
XM-nor. 
lecm  the 
»rcliii^  to 
■i  of  that 
mance  of 

that  tlie 
time,  the 
indard  of 
1^  shewn 
idency  to 
Illy  mean 
lament  of 

country, 
the  com- 
)anIos  of 
mt,  who 
)(l  kine's 
ienville's 

TEpinai 
d  i  recto  r- 
ouisiana. 
saw  with 

to  Bien- 
ony,  and 
irces. 
1  trading 
in  1716, 
d  by  St. 
h  liorses 
0  a  small 
warriors. 
Iter  to  a 
es;  near 
d  of  two 


I718J 


THE  MiNTIl. 


ao.3 


friars,  three  soldiers  and  a  woman.  '^I'heir  next  stao;e 
was  at  iNjjjroi^doches,  wliere  they  found  tlie  same 
number  of  friars,  a  luy  brother  and  a  woman.  The 
first  village  of  the  Assinais  wns  thirty  miles  farther. 
Here  they  met  two  Iriars  and  a  woman.  St.  Denys 
now  parted  from  his  (Companions  and  went  ahead 
with  a  part  of  the  gootls.  His  companions,  after 
journeying  for  twenty-five  miles,  reached  the  first 
presidio,  garrisoned  by  a  captain,  lieutenant  and 
twenty-five  soldiers;  they  journeyed  alorjg,  crossing 
two  strenms,  about  thirty  miles  to  the  last  village  of 
the  Assitiais,  near  which  was  a  mission  rom[)osed  of 
two  friars  and  a  few  soldiers.  They  halted  seventy 
miles  farther  on  the  bank  of  the  river  Trinity.  At  near- 
ly the  samedistance,they  crossed  a  river,  near  which, 
were  immense  herds  of  buffaloes.  It  had  two  branches, 
on  the  farthest  of  wliich  was  an  Indian  village  of  fifiy 
huts.  The  travellers  found  Rio  Colorado,  at  the 
distance  of  about  fifty  miles.  This  is  the  stream, 
near  the  mouth  of  which,  Lasalle  built  Fort  Louis, 
which  the  Spaniards  destroyed  in  1696.  Soon  after 
crossing  it,  the  party  was  attacked  by  about  sixty 
Spaniards,  on  horse  back,  covered  with  hides,  who, 
intimidated  by  its  spirited  conduct,  fled ;  but,  shortly 
after,  came  upon  the  rear  of  the  French,  and  carried 
away  a  mulatto  woman  and  three  mules,  orie  of  which 
was  loaded  with  a  quantity  of  goods.  The  French 
reached,  on  the  next  day,  the  camp  ?  a  wandering 
tribe  of  Indians,  who  had  erected  a  •  it  thirty  huts 
and  who  gave  them  a  friendly  reception.  After  a 
stay  of  two  days  to  rest,  the  party  crossed  on  the 
second  day  the  river  St.  Mark,  and  on  the  evening  of 
the  following,  that  of  Guadeloupe.  Fording  after- 
wards that  of  St.  Anthony,  they  stopped  at  the  pres- 
idio of  St.  John  the  Baptist,   on  the  western  side  of 


'iO'\ 


CilAlTKi: 


II 


1l'  1 


Rio  l^ravo  or  \>v\  Nortr,  at  the  (lisUiiicc  ol  about  six 
m*''ps  I'loin  tlie  stronin. 

The  garrison  of  tUis  post  consisted  ot"  a  ra})lain, 
lieutenant  and  tliirty-six  soldiers.  TUv.  sellleiuent 
uas  confined  to  a  S(|uare,  siniounded  with  inu«l- 
hoiises.  Williin  this  command,  were  the  missions  ol 
St.  .Joseph  and  St.  Bernard. 

The  French  were  inl'ormed  here,  that  tlic  ^oods, 
brouglit  by  St.  Denys,  had  heen  seiziul,  and  he  was 
gone  to  Mexico  to  solicit  their  relciise.  H'o  avoid  a 
similar  misfortune,  they  plac<'d  theirs  in  the  hands  of 
the  friars,  and  afterwards  disposed  of  them  to  mer- 
chants from  Bocca  de  Leo!i.  'J  hey  were  taiiyinp  to 
receive  their  payuient,  when  accounts  reac'icd  the 
presidio,  that  St.  Denys  !iad  hecn  iniprisotu'il  This 
induced  them  to  depart  ahrui)tly,  and  make  the  best 
of  their  wav  to  Mobile. 

On  their  nUurn  tliey  found  a  new  missloj*  had  been 
established  ot  the  Adayes,  under  tlie  ijame  of  San 
Miguel  de  I^inarez. 

The  report  of  these  people^  con\  inccd  the  colonial 
government,  that  it  would  be  in  vain  to  make  any 
further  attempt  towards  establishing  a  trade  Avith  the 
neighbouring  provinces  of  Spain. 

Bienville,  acconling  to  the  last  instructions  he  had 
received,  despatclied  Chateauguo,  with  fifty  men,  to 
take  possession  of  the  bay  of  St.  Joseph,  between  Pen- 
sacolaand  St.  Marks.  Chateauguemarkedoutthe  lines 
of  a  fort,  and  left  Gousy  to  build  and  commaid  it. 

In  the  meanwhile,  Bienville  visited  the  banks  of 
the  Mississippi,  in  order  to  select  a  spot  tor  the  prin- 
cipal settlement  of  the  province.  He  chose  that,  on 
which  the  city  of  New  Orleans  now  stands,  and  left 
there  fifty  meti  to  clear  the  ground  and  erect  barracks. 

The  coiupany  had  been  taught,  by  the  failure  of  all 
the  plans  of Crozat.  that  nothing  was  to  be  expected 


f  n  1 1 


l7J!t] 


THF  iNINTII. 


20,% 


IxMit  six 

Ciipliiiii, 
Itlcmrnt 
til  ininl- 
ss'kmis  ot 

('    ^00(1  s, 

1  lie  was 

)  iivoid  it 

IkukIs  ot 

[1   to  IIHT- 

rrviiiy  1o 

(•iifMl      tllC 

.,i      This 
tlio  bt'Si 


hsul  hren 

le  ol"  San 

p  colonial 

uakc  any 

A\  ith  the 

IS  he  hatl 
V  men.  (o 
vecii  Pen- 
t  the  lines 
u,d  it. 
hanks  of 
the  prin- 
p  that,  on 
,  and  left 
barracks, 
ure  of  all 
expected 


from  a  trade  uilh  the  Spaniards,  or  the  search  atlet 
mines  of  the  precious  metals,  in  l^onisiana  ;  and,  that 
iioconsideralde  advanlat!;<M'onld  attend  an  exclusive 
trade  with  an  e\t(Misive  province,  thiidy  [)eopled. 
unless  aj^riculture  enabled  the  planlcMs  to  [)urc!has(s 
ami  furnish  returns  for,  the  merehandi/e  that  mi«;hl 
be  sent  thither.  It  was  imagined  llie  eulturi'  of  the 
soil  wouhl  be  besi  promoicd  by  Ian.',''  i^rants  (many 
of  several  milrs  front  on  the  iiv<M's)  to  powerlnl  and 
wealthy  individuals  in  the  kiiii^dom. 

Accordingly,  one  was  made  on  the  Arkansas  river, 
of  twelve  miles  scpiare  t(»  Law.  a  Scotc!nnan,  w  ho  had 
acquired  jjreat  credit  at  court,  by  several  plans  oi 
finance,  which  he  had  proposed.  Others  of  inferior, 
though  still  very  large,  extent,  were  made — parti- 
cularly one  on  the  river  ot  the  Y  a/ous,  to  a  compaii} 
composed  of  Leblanc,  secretary  of  state,  ('ount  de 
Belleville,  the  Manjuis  of  Assleck  and  Leblond,  who 
afterwards  came  to  Louisiana,  as  a  general  otlicer  oi 
the  engineers:  olIuMs  at  the  Natchez,  to  Hubert, 
and  a  company  of  merchants  of  St.  Malocs ;  at  the 
Cadodaquious,  above  the  Natchitoches,  up  lied  river, 
to  Benard  de  la  Harpe  :  at  the  Tunicas,  to  St.  Reme  ; 
at  Point  Coupee,  to  de  Meuse  ;  at  the  place  on  which 
now  stands  the  town  of  Baton  Rouge,  to  Diron  d'Ar- 
taguette ;  on  the  right  side  of  the  Mississippi,  oppo> 
site  to  Bayou  Manchac,  to  Paris  Duvernay;  at  the 
Tchoupitoulas,  to  de  Muys ;  at  the  Oumas,  to  the 
Marquis  d'Ancouis  ;  at  the  Cannes  Brulees,  to  the 
Marquis  d'Artagnac  ;  opposite  to  these  on  the  right 
side  of  the  river,  to  de  Guiche,  de  la  Honsaie  and  de 
la  Houpe;  at  the  bay  of  St.  Louis,  to  Madame  de 
Mezieres ;  and  at  the  Pascagoulas,  to  Madame  de 
Chaumont. 

It  had  been  stipulated  with  Law,  that  he  should 
bring  fifteen  hundred  persons  from  Germany  or  Pro- 


'  ' ). 

-» 

^  i 

'ft' 

'M 

i   :i 

-;i 

t*     I  » 

!•    ; 


SOU 


cirAPTini 


|17I^ 


i1 


.'  t 


vcMico,  to  PC'tfIr  (hrljMid  i;r;ui(<'<l  lilrn.  on  tlir  Arkan- 
sas, an<l  lie  Uiis  lo  inanitiiin  a  small  ImxI^  of  l.oi^c  aii<I 
liiot  llu-llicir  |)i<)tt'<'li<»n.  KacliofUn'  ollirr  (ri-imicM'S 
was  hound  lo  transport  a  nninlxT  of  s<'lllrrs.  propor- 
iionccl  to  thr  cxtrnt  of  his  i^rant.  'I'hc  company  <'x- 
prcl<'<l  hy  (hrsr  nu'ans,  to  Inlill  thr  ohlijz;alion  imposed 
by  the  charter,  lo  inlrodncc  six  Ihonsand  vvhiU'  per- 
sons ink)  the  colony.  Kxperience.  however,  showed 
thai,  although  these  large  grants  facilitated  the  trans- 
portation of  settlers,  litthr  was  ohtained  from  the 
iahours  oi'men,  brought  over  Irom  a  distant  clime,  to 
cultivate  land,  the  proprietors  of  which  staid  behind. 

I'he  tirst  accession  of  population,  which  Louisiana 
received  in  this  manner,  consisted  of  sixty  men,  led 
by  Dubuisson,  to  occupy  the  land  granted  to  Paris 
Duvernay.     They  arrived  in  the  month  of  April. 

In  June,  three  of  the  company's  ships  arrived; 
Richbourg,  a  knight  of  St.  Louis,  and  Grandval, 
lately  appointed  major  of  the  fort  at  Mobile,  with  a 
number  of  subaltern  otlicers,  came  in  these  vessels. 
They  were  accompanied  by  Legas.  an  under-dircctor. 
who  brought  thirty  young  men,  to  be  employed  as 
clerks,  in  the  olfices  of  the  company;  seventy  settlers 
of  the  grant  of  de  la  Houssaie,  a!id  sixty  of  that  of  de 
la  Houpe,  with  tv.elve  companies  of  fifteen  settlers, 
each  of  lesser  grants ;  a  number  of  soldiers  and  con- 
victs, came  also  at  the  same  time.  The  addition  to 
the  population  of  the  colony  by  these  vessels  amount- 
ed to  upwards  of  eight  hundred  persons. 

The  Spaniards  complained  grievously  of  the  oc- 
cupation of  the  bay  of  St.  Joseph,  as  a  military  post. 
They  had  induced  one  half  of  the  garrison  to  desert; 
Chateaugue  was  sent  to  bring  back  the  remainder. 
The  fort,  being  thus  abandoned  by  the  French,  was 
immediately  after  occupied  by  the  Spaniards. 

The  former  spread  themselves  widely  over  Louis^ 


iVl'.tJ 


TIIK  MNTfT. 


iUi 


nV.  illld 

mil  res 
ropor- 

l)l)OS(>U 

ic  pn- 
iliowcd 
n  (nins- 
)m  the 
liinr,  t<> 
)(>liiiul. 
)uisiiina 

o  Paris 
ril. 

Eirrived ; 
raiulval, 
},  with  a 

vcsyols. 
director, 
oyrd  as 

settlers 
lat  of  <ie 

settlers, 
and  con- 

lition  to 

amount- 

the  oc- 

|ary  post. 

desert; 

iiainder. 

uch,  was 

;r  Louis- 


iana, in  the  lidl.  lienanl  de  hi  llar|>(%  with  sixty  seU 
(h'Ts,  went  lu  lake  posse'ssion  ol'his  ^raiit,  at  tlie  (-ad- 
<»da«jiiions,  up  Krd  river.  Bi/art  was  sent  with  a 
small  delaehrni'ut  to  the  rivr-r  Vazous,  where  he  hnilt 
fort  St.  Peter,  and  l>ois!)riant  w<Mit  to  take  the  eoin- 
niand  at  the  lllit!oi>^.  Thus  tlu'  settlements  of  the 
Preneh,  in  Louisiana,  ae(piired  the  utmost  ext(?nsion 
from  east  to  vvesi,  they  <!V»'r  hud,  i.  e.  from  I'ort  Tou- 
louse, on  tln'  Alihamons,  tt)  a  poiiit  on  Ked  river, 
heyond  the  present  limits  of  the  state.  This  eircum- 
slance  weakened  uum'Ii  tin?  eolony,  and  was  eertainly 
imi)ropitious  to  its  proj^ress  in  aiijrieulture.  Its  4;om- 
meree  was  supposed  to  he  liivour<'d,  hy  pushing  the 
settlements  amonu;  distant  trihes  of  Indians,  and 
facilitating^  the  colleetions  ot' furs  and  peltries. 

A  numl)er  of  soldiers  of  the  «;arrison  of  Mobile, 
deserted  this  winter,  and  found  their  way  by  land,  to 
the  settlements  oithe  British  in  South  Carolina. 

A  lar«^e  party  ol"  Spaniards  Irom  the  neljifhbouring 
provinces  came  to  the  Missouri,  kvith  the  view  of 
descending  and  attacking  the  French  at  the  Illinois. 
They  lell  on  two  towns  ot"  the  Missouri  Indians  and 
routed  the  inhabitants.  But,  those  at  the  mouth  of 
the  river,  having  titmdy  notice  of  the  approach  of  the 
foe,  collected  in  \  ;ist  numbers,  attacked  and  defeated 
it.  They  made  a  great  slaughter  and  tortured  to 
death  all  the  pri  ^oiiers  they  took,  except  two  friars. 
One  of  these  died  soon  after ;  the  other  remained 
awhile  in  captivity.  He  had  a  tine  horse  and  was  very 
skilful  in  the  management  of  it :  one  day  as  he  was 
amusing  the  Indians  with  teats  of  horsemanship,  he 
applied  his  spurs  to  the  sides  of  the  animal  and  elfect- 
cd  his  escape. 

In  the  spring,  TArchambault,  lately  appointed 
director-general  of  the  company's  concerns,  arrived 
it  Mobile,  with  upwards  of  one  hundred  passengers. 


\i 


I 


11 


it 


m 


'208 


CHAl'TEU 


[i7i;.t 


.%.  * 


i/i  ,'  ' 


N»^^ 


iti" 


St.  Doiivs  now  icturned  from  Mexico.  He  had 
left  the  presidio  of  iSt.  Joliii  the  Baptist,  Avith  the 
view  of  procuring  the  release  of  his  goods.  On  his 
arrivnl,  the  Marquis  de  Valero,  who  had  succeeded 
the  Duke  of  Linarez,  in  the  viceroyahy,  had  llat- 
tered  him  with  hopes  of  success.  But  Don  Martin 
de  Alacorne,  governor  of  the  province  of  Texas, 
having  heard  of  the  passage  of  St.  Denys  through  his 
government,  AvithoUt  having  seen  him,  li;ul  »  ritten  to 
the  Marquis,  representing  St.  Denys  as  a  suspicious 
character,  who  was  claiming  property  that  wac  not 
his  own.  Too  ready  an  ear  was  given  to  the  misre- 
presentation of  Don  Martin,  and  St.  Denys  was  ar- 
rested and  imprisoned.  One  month  after,  he  obtained, 
from  the  royal  audience,  a  decree  for  the  release  of 
his  person  and  the  restitution  of  his  goods.  He 
disposed  of  them  to  much  advantage  ;  but  the  person 
whom  he  employed  for  the  collection  of  the  proceeds, 
wasted  them.  Exasperated  by  his  mislbrtune,  he 
vented  his  rage  in  abuses  of  the  Spaniards,  and  in 
vaunting  his  influence  with  the  Indians.  This  indis- 
cretion occasioned  an  order  for  his  arrest ;  but  some 
of  his  wife's  relations  gave  him  notice  of  it,  and 
furnished  the  means  of  escape. 

The  only  advantage  the  company  derived  from 
his  excursion,  was  the  evidence  of  his  fidelity,  and 
some  information  relating  to  the  Spanish  settlements. 

The  province  of  New  Leon  was  thinly  peopled, 
but  rich  in  the  gifts  of  nature.  It  had  large  meadows 
covered  with  cattle  and  vast  fields  highly  cultivated, 
abounding  in  all  kinds  of  grain  and  fruit ;  Monterey 
was  its  capital.  Caldcreto,  Labradores.  St.  Antonio 
de  Llanos,  Linarez  and  Tesalve,  were  small  open 
towns.  The  province  had  no  mine  ;  but  the  industry 
of  its  inhabitants  made  them  sharers  in  the  profits  of 
their  neighbours. 


[I71i.t 

^c  had 
ith  tlie 
On  his 
;cep(led 
ad  Hat- 
Martin 
Texas, 
jijgh  his 
rilteii  to 
spicious 
wac  not 
e  misre- 
vvas  ar- 
ibtained, 
elease  of 
lis.      He 
e  person 
►roceeds, 
•tune,  he 
3.   and  in 
his  indis- 
but  some 
it,   and 

ved  from 
pHty.  and 
lenients. 

peopled, 
meadows 
ultivated, 
Monterey 
Antonio 
[lall  open 
Q  industr)/ 

profits  oi 


J7lf»1 


THE  NINTH 


209 


The  Spaniards  were  seeking  to  avail  themselves  of 
the  facility,  which  the  union  of  the  monarchies  of 
France  and  Spain  under  princes  ot  the  same  family, 
offered  of  penetrating  irjto  the  western  part  ot  Louis- 
iana. They  remembered  the  bay  of  St.  Bernard,  and 
the  Ibrt  built  there  by  Lasalle :  they  erected  another 
on  its  ruins,  in  which  they  displayed  the  tlag  of  Spain. 
Ttiey  had  called  near  it  some  wandering  tribes  of 
hidians,  who,  soon  after,  attacked  by  others  less 
pacific,  removed  their  village  seventy  miles  farther, 
westerly. 

The  Spaniards  next  brought  over,  from  the  Canary 
Islands,  a  number  of  families,  w  ho,  tinding  the  soil, 
immediately  on  the  margin  of  the  sea,  quite  sterile, 
ascended  the  river  San  Antonio,  one  of  those  that 
fall  into  the  bay  of  St.  Bernard,  ar.d  which,  by  the 
help  of  dykes,  is  made  to  cover  and  fertilize  its  banks. 
At  the  distance  of  about  two  hundred  miles  from  the 
sea,  on  the  border  and  near  the  source  ot  this  stream, 
they  established  the  town  of  San  Fernandez. 

Another  body,  amounting  to  five  hundred  of  these 
Islanders,  came  soon  after,  and  proceeded  to  the 
north  west.  They  settled  among  the  x\ssinais  and 
Abenaquis ;  tribes  remarkable  for  the  friendly  re- 
ception they  had  given  to  Lasalle.  Two  friars  and  a 
few  soldiers  had  detached  themselves  from  this  little 
colony,  to  catechise  the  Adayes,  within  twenty  miles 
from  the  Natchitoches,  among  whom  several  French 
were  domiciliated. 

The  Spaniards  called  the  country,  they  thus  usurp- 
ed from  their  neighbours.  New  Phillipine,  in  honor  to 
the  monarch  of  Spain,  and  in  the  hope,  too,  that  a 
name,  dear  to  the  French,  might  lessen  the  irritation, 
which  the  eficroachment  was  calculated  to  excite. 

Two  company  ships  arrived  from  France,  on  the 
twenty-ninth  of  April.     Serigny  and  thirty  other  pas- 

Lou.  I.  27 


h 


K  ^i.:■^• 


,1  \-' 


it 


"I  .^ 
ill:. 


ilu 


CIIAPTEK. 


[17iy 


sengers  came  in  them.  This  officer  was  charged 
with  the  survey  of  the  coast  of  Louisiana.  He 
brought  the  account  of  the  declaration  of  war  by 
France  against  Spain,  on  the  ninth  of  January,  in 
consequence  of  Philip's  refusal  to  comply  with  some 
of  the  stipulations  of  the  triple  alliance. 

In  a  council  of  war  composed  of  Bienville,  Hubert, 
L'Archambault,  Legas  and  Serigny,  the  attack  of 
Pensacola  was  determined  on. 

Bienville,  with  as  many  soldiers  of  the  garrison  as 
could  be  spared,  a  number  of  Canadians  and  four 
hundred  Indians,  gathered  around  the  fort,  marched 
by  land,  while  Serigny,  with  the  shipping  approached 
the  place  by  water.  Mattamore,  the  Spanish  gover- 
nor, having  but  a  few  soldiers,  surrendered  it  without 
resistance,  asking  as  an  only  condition,  an  exemption 
from  pillage  for  the  inhabitants,  and  a  passage  to  the 
Havana.  Two  of  the  company's  ships  went  to  Cuba 
on  this  service,  and  Chatcaugue  was  left  in  command. 

Experince  had  shewn  the  great  ti^rtility  of  the  land 
in  Louisiana,  especially  on  the  hanks  of  the  Mississip- 
pi, and  its  aptitude  to  the  culture  of  tobacco,  indigo, 
cotton  and  rice;  but  the  labourers  were  very  few, 
and  many  of  the  new  comers  had  fallen  victims  to  the 
climate.  The  survivors  found  it  impossible  to  work 
in  the  field  during  the  great  heats  of  the  summer, 
protracted  through  a  part  of  the  autumn.  The 
necessity  of  obtaining  cultivators  from  Africa,  was 
apparent;  the  company  yielding  thereto,  sent  two  of 
its  ships  to  the  coast  of  Africa,  from  whence  they 
brought  five  hundred  negroes,  who  were  landed  at 
Pensacola.  They  brought  thirty  recruits  to  the  gar- 
rison. 

A  number  of  soldiers  having  deserted  this  year,  and 
it  being  supposed  they  had  gone  to  South  Carolina. 
Vauchez  de  la  Tondiere  was  sent  to  Charleston  to 


[171'J 

i  charged 
ana.  He 
of  war  by 
anuary,  in 
with  some 

le,  Hubert, 
attack  of 


garrison  as 
and  four 
t,  marched 
pproached 
riish  gover- 
I  it  without 
exemption 
sage  to  the 
nt  to  Cuba 
I  command, 
of  the  land 
!  Mississip- 
co,  indigo, 
e  very  few, 
;tiras  to  the 
le  to  work 
e  summer, 
mn.  The 
Urica,  was 
sent  two  of 
lence  they 
landed  at 
to  the  gar- 

s  year,  and 
1  Carolina, 
arleston  to 


#^ 


1719J 


THE  NINTH. 


?lt 


claim  them.  Governor  Johnston,  far  from  listening 
to  the  request  of  Bienville,  sent  his  messenger  to 
England;  an  injustice,  which  the  indiscreet  confi- 
dence of  Bienville  by  no  means  justified. 

In  violation  of  the  laws  of  war,  the  captain-general 
of  the  island  of  Cuba,  seized  the  company's  ships, 
which  had  entered  the  port  of  Havana  to  land  the 
garrison  of  Pensacola,  pursuant  to  one  of  the  stipula- 
tions of  the  capitulation.  Having  manned  them  with 
sailors  of  his  nation,  and  put  a  small  land  force  on 
board,  he  sent  them  back  to  retake  the  place.  They 
appeared  before  it  on  the  fifth  of  August. 

L'Archambault  was  still  there ;  Chateaugue  and 
he  determined  on  a  vigorous  defence,  in  the  hope  of 
being  soon  succoured  by  Bienville  and  Serigny  :  but 
the  confusion,  which  the  unexpected  approach  of  the 
enemy  created,  and  the  mutiny  of  some  soldiers,  ex- 
cited by  a  few  Spanish  subaltern  officers,  who  had 
been  incautiously  suffered  to  remain,  compelled 
Chateaugue  to  surrender  the  next  day. 

Serigny,  having  learnt  the  arrival  of  the  Spaniards, 
was  advancing,  when  he  heard  of  their  success. 
Aware  that  they  would  not  long  remain  idle,  he  hast- 
ened to  Dauphine  Island,  and  had  hardly  anchored, 
when  the  enemy  hove  in  sight.  Don  Antonio  de  la 
Mandella,  the  commodore,  sent  a  boat  to  summon  the 
officer  commanding  the  ship,  in  which  Serigny  had 
advanced,  to  an  immediate  surrender;  threatening  in 
case  of  delay,  or  injury  to  the  ship,  to  give  no  quarters, 
and  even  to  extend  his  rigour  to  Chateaugue  and  the 
other  French  prisoners,  taken  at  Pensacola.  Diouis, 
who  commanded  the  shipping,  sent  the  messenger  on 
shore  to  Serigny,  who  received  him  surrounded  by 
two  hundred  soldiers,  and  a  greater  number  of  In- 
dians ;  the  latter  manifested  anxiety  and  impatience 
to  be  permitted  to  present  Serigny  with  the  Span- 


212 


CHAPTER 


[1718 


^J,"  .. 


■^: 


11 


iard's  scalp.  He  was  direc'ed  to  make  known  to  Don 
Antonio,  the  determined  resolution  of  tlie  French  to 
defend  the  shipping  and  island.  Fifty  men  were  sent 
on  board  of  the  shipping  to  enable  them  to  resist  the 
landing. 

Towards  the  evening,  one  of  the  enemy's  ships 
entered  Mobile  river,  and  took  a  l>oat  with  tivemen 
and  a  quantity  of  provisions:  and  on  the  next  day, 
another  boat  laden  also  witJi  provisions,  going  irotn 
Dauphine  Island  to  the  lort  at  Mobile,  was  captured. 

In  the  meanwhile,  Bienville  reached  Dauphine 
Island,  with  a  large  body  of  Indians,  and  the  Span- 
iards were  repulsed  in  their  attempt  to  land.  Nine- 
teen of  their  men  were  killed  or  drowned.  Eighteen 
French  deserters  were  taken  by  the  Indians  :  seven- 
teen of  them  were  shot  at  Mobile,  and  the  other  hung 
on  the  island. 

It  appearing  impracticable  to  prevent  the  enemy 
from  entering  Mobile  river,  it  was  determined  no 
longer  to  attempt  sending  provisions  to  the  fort. 
Every  effort  was  directed  to  the  protection  of  the 
island.  The  Spaniards  did  not  attempt  any  thing 
till  the  eighteenth,  when  two  ships  were  discovered 
coming  from  Pensacola.  They  hovered  around  the 
island  the  two  following  days,  and  ISerigny  employed 
this  time  in  erecting  batteries  near  the  places  in 
which  a  landing  was  most  to  be  apprehended.  On 
the  twenty-first,  the  enemy  approached  the  western 
end  of  the  island,  and  exchanged  a  few  shots  with  a 
French  ship,  supported  by  a, battery.  They  next 
moved  to  Point  Guiderv,  at  the  eastern  end  of  the 
settlement.  Serigny  ordered  Trudeau,  a  Canadian 
officer,  to  take  as  many  Indians  as  he  could,  and  op- 
pose the  landing.  About  one  hundred  Spaniards 
came  on  shore;  but  Trudeau,  approaching  with 
twelve  Indians   onlv.   they  were  so  alarmed  at   the 


[1719 

ivn  to  Don 

French  to 

were  sent 

resist  the 

iiy's  ships 
li  five  men 
next  dnv, 
^oihjr  fro'.n 
ciiplured. 
Dauphiiie 
the  Span- 
id.     Nine- 
Eighteen 
lis :  seven- 
other  hnng 

the  enemy 
rmined   no 
3   the  fort, 
tion  of  the 
any  thing 
discovered 
around  the 
employed 
places  in 
nded.     On 
le  western 
lots  with  a 
They  next 
end  of  the 
Canadian 
d,  and  op- 
Spaniards 
hing    with 
led  at   ihc 


171f>J 


THE  NINTH 


2K5 


yells  and  shrieks  of  those  allies  of  the  French,  tiiat 
they  retreated  in  much  confusion.  Ten  of  their  men 
were  killed  or  drowned. 

On  the  next  day,  the  enemy  succeeded  in  effecting 
a  second  landing  at  the  same  place,  but  the  only 
advantage  it  procured  was  a  supply  of  water, 
obtained  before  the  force  sent  by  Serigny  to  drive 
them  back  arrived.  On  the  same  day  the  garrison  was 
reinforced  by  sixty  Indians  from  Mobile  ;  at  night  the 
barracks  were  consumed  by  an  accidental  fire. 

Shots  were  again  exchanged  the  next  morning  by 
a  Spanish  and  a  French  ship  under  a  battery.  The 
former  sailed  off",  on  the  Ibllowing  day,  after  firing  a 
few  broad  sides  at  the  houses.  The  rest  of  the  fleet, 
departing  one  after  the  other,  were  all  out  of  sight  on 
the  twenlyeighth. 

Three  sliips  of  the  line,  under  the  orders  of  the 
Count  de  Champineslin,  escorting  two  company  ships, 
hove  in  sight  on  the  first  of  September.  The  garri- 
son were  greatly  alarmed,  mistaking  them  for  a  fleet 
from  Vera  Cruz,  which,  it  had  been  reported,  was 
coming  to  prosecute  the  success  of  the  Spanish  arms, 
and  reduce  the  whole  province  of  Louisiana. 

Villardo,  a  new  director,  with  two  hundred  passen- 
gers, arrived  with  Cliampmeslin. 

A  council  of  war  was  held  on  board  of  the  Count's 
ship,  in  which  it  was  determined  to  attack  Pensaco- 
la.  Two  hundred  soldiers  were  accordingly  taken 
on  board  of  the  fleet,  and  the  anchors  were  weighed 
on  the  fifteenth.  Bienville  sat  off"  at  the  same  time 
from  Mobile,  by  land,  with  the  same  rmmber  of  soldi- 
ers and  about  one  hundred  Indians ;  those  on  Dau- 
phine  Island  having  gone  in  the  fleet.  Having  invest- 
ed the  fort,  he  hoisted  a  white  flag,  a  signal  precon- 
certed with  Champmeslin,  who  immediately  brought 
the  naval  force  into  the  harbour.     The  main  tort  did 


•^14 


CHAPTER 


[nitr 


not  fire  a  single  gun;  the  small  one  was  defended  for 
acouple  of'liours.  The  shipping  made  a  brisk  but 
unsucceHsful  resistance.  The  Indians  were  allowed 
to  pillage  the  main  fort ;  but  were  prevented  from 
scalping  any  one. 

When  the  Spanish  commodore  presented  his  sword 
to  Champmeslin,  the  latter  immediately  girt  it  on 
him,  saying  he  deserved  to  wear  it.  The  comman- 
der of  the  land  forces  was  treated  in  a  different  man- 
ner; Champmeslin  ordered  a  common  sailor  to  re- 
ceive his  sword,  and  reprimanded  the  Spaniard  lorhis 
want  of  courage ;  saying  he  did  not  deserve  to  serve 
his  king. 

The  Spaniards  lost  many  men,  the  French  six  on- 
ly. The  number  of  prisoners  made  was  eighteen 
hundred. 

The  hope  had  been  entertained  that  a  large  supply 
of  provisions  and  ammunition  would  have  been  found 
in  the  forts ;  but  it  turned  out  they  had  provisions  for 
a  fortnight  only.  The  discovery  induced  Champ- 
meslin to  hasten  the  departure  of  his  prisoners.  The 
officer,  who  carried  them  to  Havana,  was  direct- 
ed to  bring  back  all  the  French  prisoners  there,  and 
in  order  to  insure  their  return,  the  field  officers  lately 
taken  were  detained  as  hostages. 

A  brig  laden  with  corn,  flour  and  brandy,  sent  from 
Havana  to  supply  the  fleet,  which  was  expected  from 
Vera  Cruz,  entered  the  harbour  of  Pensacola  on  the 
twenty-eighth,  having  mistaken  the  shipping  in  it  for 
that  of  her  nation.  Her  captain  reported  that,  when 
he  sailed,  it  was  confidently  believed  in  the  island  of 
Cuba,  that  the  Spanish  flag  was  flying  in  every  fort  of 
Louisiana. 

Early  in  October,  a  brig  from  Vera  Cruz  arrived 
with  six  hundred  sacks  of  flour,  and  afterwards  a  smal- 
ler vessel  from  the  same  port.     They  were  both  de- 


[nit> 


i719] 


THE  NINTH. 


^1; 


d  for 

kbut 

[3wed 

from 

iwoi'd 
it  on 

iman- 

.  man- 
to  rc- 

forliisi 
serve 

six  on- 
^hteen 

supply 
1  found 
ons  for 
phamp- 
The 
direct- 
re,  and 
5  lately 

nt  from 
?d  from 
on  the 
n  it  for 
when 
land  of 
fort  ol 

arrived 
a  smal- 
oth  de- 


ceived by  the  Spanish  flag,  whicli  was  kept  flying  over 
the  forts,  for  this  purpose. 

The  French  fleet  sailed  on  the  twenty-third ;  De- 
Hsle,  a  lieutettant  of  the  king's  ships,  was  left  in  com- 
mand at  Pensacola.  Of  forty  (h'serters,  who  were 
found  with  tlie  Spaniards,  twelve  were  hung  on  hoard 
of  the  ships  :  the  others  were  condemned  to  hard  la- 
bour for  the  benefit  ol  the  company. 

The  directors  in  France  having  drawn  the  atten- 
tion of  the  king,  to  the  alterations  which  the  new  or- 
der of  things  required  in  the  organization  of  the  supe- 
rior council  of  Louisiana,  this  tribunal  had  been  new 
modelled  ;  and  by  an  edict  of  the  month  of  Septem- 
ber it  had  been  ordered  that  it  should  be  composed 
of  such  directors  of  the  company,  as  might  be  in  the 
province,  the  commandant-general,  a  senior  counsel- 
lor, the  king's  two  lieutenants,  three  other  counsel- 
lors, an  attorney-general  and  a  clerk. 

The  quorum  was  fixed  at  three  members  in  civil, 
and  five  in  criminal,  cases.  Those  present  were  au- 
thorised to  call  in  some  of  the  most  notable  inhabi- 
tants, to  form  a  quorum^  in  case  of  the  absence  or  le- 
gitimate excuse  ofthe  others.  Judgments,  in  origin- 
al, as  in  appellate  cases,  were  to  be  in  the  last  resort, 
and  without  costs.     The  sessions  were  to  be  monthly. 

Hitherto  the  council  had  been  the  sole  tribunal  in 
the  colony.  The  suitors  had  no  other  to  which  they 
could  resort.  The  increasing  extension  of  the  po- 
pulation demanded  that  judges  should  be  dispersed 
in  the  several  parts  ofthe  province.  The  directors 
ofthe  company,  or  its  agents  in  the  distant  parts,  with 
two  of  the  most  notable  inhabitants  ofthe  neighbour- 
hood, in  civil,  and  four  in  criminal  cases,  were  con- 
stituted inferior  tribunals.  Theirjudgments,  though 
subject  to  an  appeal  to  the  superior  council,  were  car- 


,<  '  I''  ,  .. 


%     hi 


■i\ 


1    ■; 


'  '  I.) 


.  <J' 


ilti 


CHAPTER 


[171b 


j'w 


ried   into  immediate  but  provisioiifil  execution,  not- 
withstandiug,  but  without  prejudice  to,  the  appeal. 

The  gentlemen  who  composed  the  first  superior 
council  under  this  edict,  were  Bienville,  as  command- 
ant-general, Hubert,  as  senior  counsellor,  Boisbriant 
and  ChateaugUL',  as  the  king's  lieutenants,  L'Arch- 
ambault,  Villardo  and  Legas,  as  puisne  counsellors; 
Cartier  de  Baune  was  the  attornej-general,  and  Cou- 
ture the  clerk. 

Although  the  commandant-general  occupied  the 
first  seat  in  the  council,  the  senior  counsellor  perform- 
ed the  functions  of"  president  of  that  tribunal.  Hq 
collected  the  votes  and  pronounced  the  judgments : 
and  in  provisory  instances,  as  the  affixing  of  seals, 
inventories  and  the  like,  the  duties  of  a  judge  of  the 
first  instance  were  discharged  by  him. 

The  hope  of  acquiring  riches,  by  the  discovery  of 
mines,  had  not  yielded  to  the  experience  of  up- 
wards of  twenty  years;  and  the  people  of  the  Illinois 
thought  their  country  possessed  valuable  ores,  and 
their  time  was  more  engrossed  by  search  after  them 
than  the  tillage  of  the  earth.  On  their  application, 
an  engineer,  who  was  supposed  to  be  skilled  in  mine- 
ralogy, was  sent  late  in  the  fall  to  that  distant  part  of 
the  colony. 

The  desire  of  Bienville  to  remove  the  seat  of  go- 
vernment, and  the  head  quarters  of  the  troops,  to  the 
spot  he  had  selected  on  the  Mississippi  lor  a  city, 
was  opposed  by  the  other  militj\ry  officers,  by  Hubert 
and  the  directors  of  the  company's  concerns.  An 
extraordinary  rise  of  the  Mississippi,  this  year,  seem- 
ed to  present  an  insuperable  obstacle  to  his  project: 
as  the  colony  did  not  possess  the  means  of  raising  at 
once  the  dykes  or  levees  necessary  (o  protect  the 
place  from  the  inundation  of  the  stream,  the  idea  was 
for  the   present  abandoned.     Hubert  thought  the 


not- 

icrior 
[land- 
)riant 
/Vrch- 
llors; 
iCou- 

d  the 
rtorm- 
.  Hq 
nents : 
seals, 
of  the 

^ery  of 
of  up- 
[lliiiois 
s,  and 
r  tliera 
cation, 
I  mifie- 
^art  oi 

of  go- 
to the 
a  city, 
Hubert 
.  An 
seem- 
roject : 
sing  at 
3Ct  the 
ea  was 
ht  the 


l7l!.J 


THK  NIN  IH 


i'l 


cliiof  est:ihlishment  of  the  |)iovince  shonUI  be  in  (lie 
couitry  of  the  Njilchoz  :  but,  as  ho  had  ol)tained  a 
hu'iro  grant  of  land  there  his  predilection  for  (iiis  part 
ol  tlic  country  was  attributed  to  private  motives,  and 
he  Ibuiid  no  adherent.  L'Archambault,  V^illardo  and 
Legas,  whose  views  were  more  commercial  than  agri- 
cultural, joine<l  in  the  opiiiion  to  remove  the  seat  of 
government  to  a  spot  on  the  sea  shore,  on  the  east 
side  of  the  bay  of  l^iloxi.  'Phis  opinion  prevailed  ; 
and  Valdelure  led  there  a  detachment  to  be  employed 
in  erecting  houses  and  barracks.  The  place  was  af- 
terwards known  as  the  New  Biloxi. 

Dutisjie,  who  had  been  sent  to  explore  the  country 
of  the  Missouris,  Osages  and  Parioucas,  now  return- 
ed, and  made  a  report  to  Bienville. 

He  had  ascended  the  Mississi;)pi  as  far  as  the  bat/- 
ou  des  Salines^  which  is  six  miles  from  the  Kaskaskias, 
and  ninety  from  the  Missouri.     He  afterwards  travel- 
led through  stony  hills  well  timbered,  crossing  sever- 
al streams  which  tlow  into  the  Missouri.     He  reckon- 
ed there  were  three  hundred  and  fifty  miles  from  the 
salines  to  the  principal  village  of  the  Osages,  which 
stood  on  a  hill,  at  the  distance  of  five  miles  from  the 
river  of  this  name.     It  contained  about  one  hundred 
cabins,  and  nearly  double  that  number  of  warriors. 
These  Indians  spent  but  a  small  part  of  the  year  in 
their  villages,  hunting  to  a  great  distance  through  the 
woods,  during  the  other  part.     About  one  hundred 
and  twenty  miles  from  the  Osages,  in  a  prairie  coun- 
try, abounding  with  buffaloes,  he  found  the  first  vil- 
lage of  the  Panionkes,  which  had  one  hundred  and 
thirty  cabins,  and  he  estimated  the  number  of  their 
warriors  at  two  hundred  and  fifty.     They  had  ano- 
ther village,  nearly  of  the  same  size,  about  four  miles 
further.     There  were  near  these  two  villages  above 
three  hundred  horses,  which  these  Indians  appeared 
T.ou.  I.  28 


•t      .3',    ..     ^.il 


!.    \ 
•■X  •■, . 


2JP> 


cnAi*Ti:h 


[171 


7I<V 


.:!   . 


Jo  prizo  imicli.  The  Pawoiiers  wcvv  at  llic  distaiicc 
ol  lour  liuiidn'd  and  (ilty  niilns.  Then?  was  a  saline 
ot  rock  salt  at  about  lifty  miles  t'r<»in  the  Paiionssas. 

He  had  noticed  mines  oflead  and  ores  ot  otln'r  me- 
tals, near  the  \  illa^r-s  of  the  C)sa<res.  Thu  villa«>;es  of 
the  Missouiis  were  at  the  dislaiu'c*  of  three  hundred 
and  (ifty  yards  from  the  uK)uth  of  the  river,  which 
bears  their  name,  and  those  of  tlie  Osages,  about 
ninety  miles  farther. 

He  iormally  took  possession  oCthe  countries  of  these 
Indians,  in  the  name  of  the  king,  and  erected  posltr 
with  liis  arms,  in  testimonial  of  it. 

Delochon,  a  gentleman  w  ho  had  been  recommend- 
ed by  the  directors  for  his  skill  in  mineralogy,  had 
been  sent  to  the  Marameg,  a  river  that  falls  into  the 
Mississippi,  a  little  al)0\e  the  Missouri,  and  on  the 
same  side.  He  obtained  some  ore,  at  a  place  point- 
ed out  by  the  Indians,  and  asserted,  that  a  pound  of 
it  had  produced  two  penny  weights  oi'siher.  On  his 
return  to  Mobile,  he  jiad  been  sent  back  with  a  num- 
ber of  workmen  ;  aiul  the  process  being  repeated  on 
a  very  large  scale,  a  few  thousand  pounds  ofvery  in- 
ferior lead  were  obtained.  It  was  believed  he  had 
been  guilty  of  a  gross  imposition. 

Accounts  w  ere  received  from  Euroj)e  that  the  wes- 
tern and  the  eastern  companies  had  been  united:  the 
aggregate  body  preserving  the  name  of  the  former. 
The  new  directors  sent  positive  orders  to  Bienville 
to  remove  the  head  quarters  of  the  colony  to  Biloxi  : 
an  unfortunate  step,  as  the  land  there  is  a  barren  soil, 
absolutely  incapable  of  culture;  the  anchorage  un- 
sale.  and  the  coast  of  difficult  access. 

The  directors  sent  for  publication  in  the  province, 
a  proclamation  of  theirs  notilyinsf  the  prices,  at  which 
goods  were  to  be  obtained  in  the  company's  stores  at 
Mobile,  Dauphiue  Island  and  Pensacola.     To  these 


17201 


TiTi-:  NixTir 


i\^ 


|uit;e.s  ail  advanro  oflivo  prr  cent,  was  lo  ho  in\i]vd 
OH  goods  (h'li\( mcmI  at  i\r\v  OrUaiis,  icii  at  the  Nal- 
clioz.  tliirlornattlic  Vaxous,  t\v<Milyat  Natchitoches, 
and  (illy  at  (ho  llhiiois  and  on  Ihc  Missouri. 

Tho  pro  luce  oCthc  country  was  to  he  received  in 
the  company's  warehouses  in  NewOrh'ans,  Biloxi, 
.Ship  Ishmd  and  Mohih'  at  Ihe  follow  ins-  rates.  JSilk, 
according  to  tpialily,  from  one  dollur  and  (itly  cents 
to  two  dollars  the  j)oniid  ;  tohacco  of  (he  hest  kind, 
five  dollars  the  hmidred,  rice  four,  superfine  (lour 
three,  wlieat  (wo  dollars  ;  barley  aixl  oats  ninety  cen(s 
the  hundred  weia;ht ;  deer  skins,  (i-om  tifteon  to  twen- 
ty five  ;  dressed,  without  head  or  (ail,  thirty  ;  hides 
eight  cents  the  pound. 

In  the  boi^imiingof  the  year,  de  la  Tfarpc  arrived 
from  Red  river.  He  had  estahlished  a  post  at  tlic 
Cadodaquious,  and  explored  the?  country  around. 

Having  ascended  Red  river,  as  tiir  as  the  Natchi- 
toches, with  fif(y  men,  in  two  boats  and  three  pi- 
rogues, he  found  Blondel  in  command  at  the  fort.  Fa- 
ther Marmel,  a  friar  of  the  Spanish  mission  of  the 
Adayes,  had  come  on  a  visit.  On  an  island  near  tliie 
fort,  were  about  two  hundred  individuals  of  the  Nat- 
chitoches, Dulcinoes  and  Yatassec  tribes. 

Don  Martin  de  Alacorne,  governor  of  the  province 
of  Texas,  had  lately  gone  to  Rio  del  Norte,  after 
liaving  established  several  missions,  and  built  a  fort 
on  a  bay,  which  he  called  del  Spiritu  Santo,  near  the 
rivers  Guadaloupe  and  St.  Mark;  and  was  expected 
to  return  and  establish  a  mission  at  tlie  Cadodaqui- 
ons.  Laharpe,  anxious  to  preoccupy  the  ground, 
left  the  fort  of  Natchitoches  and  ascended  Red  river 
to  the  Nassonites,  who  dwelt  at  the  distance  of  four 
hundred  and  fifty  miles.  The  Indians,  in  these  parts, 
the  Cadodaquious  and  Yatassees,  apprised  of  his  ap- 
proach, had  prepared  an  entertainment,  to  which  they 


j^ 

'  t 

1 

f 

\mk 

.  v'.^h 

h"m 


I'  •; 


220 


iJIIAl'TKU 


[l'J2« 


l| 


iff'  i  ■ 


'li  1 


invited  liim  an/l  his  olIiccTs.  Largr  (jiiniilitics  of 
t^moked  Ix'^'i'  iun\  lish  had  hern  |)ro\i(lcd.  A  pvo- 
found  yih'iH  o  pirv:iih'd;  th<'  Indians  dreniin^  i(  unci- 
vil to  ad(lr(^ss  their  j;u<'stH,  till  they  arc  perlrclly  at 
rest  or  be<;in  the  conversation;  Laharpe  Uiiitcdiiil 
hiri  hosts  had  satisl'u'd  their  appetites,  and  then  in- 
fonned  then),  throui;h  iiis  interpreter,  that  ihe  ^^reat 
chief  of  the  l*"r<'neh  on  the  Mississippi,  ofu  liose  mind 
lie  was  tin;  hearei",  apprised  ol  ihe  war  tlie  C  liieka- 
saws  wa^ijed  aji;ainst  iheni.  had  f;ent  hiui  and  sotno 
other  warriors,  to  dw<'ll  in  theii- country,  and  |)rolect 
them  against  their  enenii«;s. 

An  old  (/adodacprnjM  now  rose  and  observed  the 
time  WHS  now  come  for  tiiem  to  ehanftje  tlu'ir  mourn- 
ful mood  tor  scenes  «>1  j«>)  :  several  oi  his  countrymen 
had  heon  kilhtl,  and  olhris  nride  prisoners;  so  that 
his  nation  was  greatly  redntu-d  ;  but  du>  arrival  ol  the 
French  was  about  to  pi  event  its  ulter  destruction. 
He  concluded  they  should  return  thanks  to  the  great 
spirit,  w  hose  w  rath  was  no  doubt  aj>|)eased.  and  yield 
every  possible  assistance  to  the  French,  as  his  nation 
well  knew  that  the  Naoudishes  and  other  wandering 
tribes  bad  given  them  peace  siiu'.e  the  arriNalofsome 
of  the  French,  under  l.asalle. 

Laharpe,  desiring  intbrmation  as  to  the  nearest 
Spanish  settlements,  and  the  nighbouring  tribes  otln- 
dians,  was  apprised  that  southerly,  at  the  distance 
of  tiiirty  mik\-.  were  the  Assinais,  and  one  hundred 
and  twenty  miles  from  these  the  Nadocoes.  The 
Spaniards  had  lately  sent  friars  and  soldiers  among 
these  two  tribes,  whose  villages  could  not  be  ap- 
proached by  land,  except  in  the  lowest  waters;  as  a 
river  was  to  be  crossed,  which,  in  the  wet  season, 
iiumdated  the  country  to  a  large  extent.  At  the  dis- 
tance of  one  hundred  and  eighty  miles,  on  the  left 
side  of  the  river,  were  wanderirig  tribes  of  Indians, 


17201 


Tllf:  M\Tlf. 


nm 


22t 


who  vvci'oal  Wiir  with  llic  f 'jidnyM,  in  the  lUMglilioiii- 
lioo«l  oluhoni  th<!  Spaiiiiirds  h^d  iimirtsioii. 

Jiiihai'|K'  pmch'j'^cd  ihc  cah'm  ot'oiip  of  thechictii. 
near  ihc  river  ami  tttt  iho  loft  sidr  oljl.  I'he  t'ouiilry 
was  llat ;  but  at  llio  distii.ji'o  of  one  or  two  inilrs  irom 
lh<'  rivci',  uf  rp  hhill  .  and  behind  these  wi<le  prairies, 
"^rin'  soil  wa-  l)htek,  ihoiif/h  waiuly,  and  alon^  the 
stream  v«,'ry  suitahf'  to  (he  (;idtivjiHo!i  ot'tobaeeo,  in- 
digo, cotton,  corn  and  olher  grains  The  Indians  said 
the)'  sowed  corn  in  April,  and  gathered  it  in  Jnl>.  "^Phr 
iJiOBt  common  trees  were  the  copidm,  willow,  elm, 
red  and  whit*'  oak,  laurel  aial  plum.  'I'he  woods 
abounded  in  vines,  and  the  prairies  weie  lull  ofstraw- 
)>erries,  cranberries  antl  wild  purslain. 

]jaharpo  employed  his  men  at  lirst  in  eroclin«>a 
lar^e  and  strong  blockhouse,  in  which  he  was  assist- 
ed by  the  Jnclians.  By  repeated  observations,  he 
Ibund  it  in  latitude  3.'J.  Af).  and  he  reckoned  it  was 
distant,  in  a  straight  way  I'rom  the  Ibrt  ot'Natchitoch- 
es,  two  bundled  and  filty  miles. 

Don  Martin  de  Alacorne  having  in  the  mean  while 
returned  to  the  neighbourhood,  Laharpe  despatched 
a  corporal  of  his  garrison,  who  spoke  the  language  oi 
several  tribes  ol' Indians,  with  a  letter,  soliciting  Don 
Martin's  I'riend^hip  and  correspondence,  and  tender- 
ing any  servitic  in  liis  power;  intbrming  him  he  had  it 
in  charge  to  seek  every  opportunity  ol"  opening  a 
trade  with  the  Spaniards.  Laharpe,  at  the  same  time 
addressed  Father  Marsello,  the  superior  of  the  missi- 
onaries in  the  province  ot  Texas,  begging  his  friend- 
ship, and  offering  a  correspondence,  advantageous  to 
the  mission — observing,  the  conversion  of  the  Indi- 
ans ought  to  engage  the  attention  of  all  good  christi- 
ans; and  as  some  assistance  might  be  usefid,  in  ena- 
bling his  reverence  successfully  to  preach  the  gospel 
in  these  parts,  and  enlist  the  Indians  under  the  banner 


mi 


>r-  1 


i  -. 


vmi\ 


ii^\ 


CirAPTtlK 


Li72«» 


of  the  cross,  he  suggcstrd  the  father  should  writf> 
to  his  friends  in  Mexico  and  Bo(!ca  de  Leon,  that  thej^^ 
would  find,  at  Natchitoches  and  tiie  Nassonites,  any 
kind  otEuropean  goods  they  might  have  occasion  for, 
on  very  good  terms.  He  conchuled  hy  assuring  the 
holy  man,  he  would  he  allowed  a  handsome  commis- 
sion on  any  sale  etfbcted  through  his  aid. 

By  the  return  of  the  corporal,  Don  Martin  recipro- 
cated Laharpe's  oflTers  of  service ;  but  expressed  hiie 
surprise  at  the  occupation  by  the  French,  of  a  ter- 
ritory, which  he  observed  made  a  part  of  the  >  ice- 
royalty  of  Mexico.  He  requested  Lahnrpe,  to 
make  it  known  to  his  chief,  that  the  necessity  of  using 
force  to  remove  the  detachment  might  be  averted. 

The  fathers  reply  was  of  a  diflferent  cast.  He  wrote 
that,  as  the  proposed  correspondence  was  tendered 
on  principles  of  religion,  charity  and  esteem,  he 
cheerfully  accepted  it,  and  would  apprise  his  friends 
of  Laha.  pe's  arrival  and  views.  He  added,  that,  as 
it  did  not  become  the  clergy  to  be  concerned  in  trade, 
he  had  to  request  the  correspondence  might  be  kept 
secret ;  especially  as  he  was  not  on  very  good  terms 
with  Don  Martin,  who,  he  intimated,  would  probably 
be  soon  removed. 

Laharpe  expressed  to  the  latter,  he  was  astonished 
at  the  assertion,  that  the  post,  just  occupied  by  the 
French,  was  within  the  government  of  Mexico,  as  he 
and  his  countrymen  had  always  considered  the  whole 
country,  which  the  Spaniards  called  the  province  of 
Texas,  as  part  of  Louisiana,  of  w  hich  Lasalle  had 
taken  possession  thirty-six  years  before.  He  added, 
he  had  never  understood  till  now,  that  the  pretentions 
of  Spain  had  ever  been  extended  to  the  east  of  Rio 
Bravo;  all  the  rivers,  flowing  into  the  Mississippi 
being  the  property  of  France,  with  all  the  country 
they  watered. 


1720] 


THE  NLVrM. 


«iij 


There  >vas  at  the  distance  of  thirty  miles  to  the 
northwest  of  tlie  spot  occupied  by  the  French,  a 
salt  spring,  from  which  they  obtained  four  hundred 
weight  of  salt. 

A  Dulcino  Indian,  coming  from  Natchitoches,  in- 
formed the  Nassonites,  the  French  w<Me  at  war  with 
the;  Spaniards,  and  tiie  Natchitoches  were  desirous  to 
he  joined  by  the  Nassonites.  to  assist  the  French. 
These  Indians  replied  they  would  not  join  in  any  act 
of  hostility;  but  they  would  defend  the  French,  if  they 
were  attacked. 

Moulet  and  Durivage,  two  officers  of  Laharpe's 
detachment,  having  gone  on  a  journey  of  discovery, 
met,  at  the  distance  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  miles 
iiom  the  Nassonites,  on  Red  river,  parts  of  several 
wandering  tribes,  by  whom  they  were  well  received. 
These  Indians  had  lately  destroyed  part  of  the 
Cansey  nation,  who  had  eleven  villages  on  the  head 
of  that  river,  near  which  (he  Spaniards  had  a  settle- 
ment and  woiked  mines.  In  high  water,  the  villages 
were  accessible  by  the  river.  Presents  were  made 
by  the  two  Frenchmen  to  these  Indians,  w  bom  they 
endeavoured  to  induce  to  remove  to  the  neighbour- 
hood of  the  Nassonites,  to  settle  in  villages  and  plant 
corn.  They  were  about  two  thousand — had  no  per- 
manent residence ;  but  went  out  in  large  parties, 
erecting  huts,  in  the  shape  of  a  dome,  and  covered 
with  hides. 

On  the  return  of  these  officers,  Laharpe,  finding  his 
post  had  nothing  to  apprehend,  made  with  two 
others,  half  a  dozen  soldiers  and  a  few  Indians,  an 
excursion  to  the  northeast.  He  loaded  eleven  !  orses, 
with  goods  and  provisions,  and  journeyed  to  the 
Washitas  and  Arkansas.  He  met  with  a  friendly 
reception  from  these  Indians,  and  entered  into  alli- 
ance with  them.  He  took  possession  of  their  country. 


1      ,  vti: 


^^i;    '- 


J24 


T-HAPTKR 


ri720 


f  !. 


in  the  iwime  of  his  sovereign,  and  in  token  of  it  erected 
posts  with  the  escnt(!heon  of  France.  Having  dis- 
posed of  his  goods,  on  very  advantageous  terms,  he 
floated  down  the  Arkansas  river  lo  the  Mississippi, 
and  readied  Biloxi  througli  Bayou  Manchac  and  the 
lakes. 

The  Chickasavvs.  excited  by  the  British  in  South 
Carolina,  began  a  war  against  tlie  French  colonists. 
The  first  act  of  hostility  was  the  murder  of  Sorvidal, 
an  officer  whom  Bienville  had  sent  among  these  In- 
dians. This  circumstance  rendered  an  increase  of 
population  quite  welcome.  A  fleet,  commanded  by 
commodore  Saugoon,  in  the  month  of  February, 
brought  five  hundred  and  eighty-two  passengers, 
among  whom,  were  a  number  of  females  from  the 
hospital-general  of  Paris. 

1'he  settlement  at  the  Illinois  began  to  thrive, 
many  families  having  come  thither  from  Canada ;  and 
Boisbriant,  who  commanded  there,  removed  its  prin- 
cipal establishment  to  the  bat»k  of  the  Mississippi, 
twenty-five  miles  below  the  Kaskaskia  village. 

The  company  having  represented  to  the  king,  that 
the  planters  of  Louisiana  had  been  enabled  by  the 
introduction  of  a  great  number  of  negroes,  to  clear 
and  cultivate  large  tracts  of  land,  and  that  there  had 
been  a  great  migration  of  his  subjects  and  foreigners, 
who  had  been  emplo}^d  in  the  tillage  of  the  ground  ; 
fio  that,  the  planters  found  it  no  longer  their  interest 
to  employ  vagabonds  orcorjvicts;  as  these  people 
were  idle  and  dissolute,  and  less  disposed  to  labour 
than  to  corrupt  the  poorer  white  inhabitants,  the 
negroes  and  Indians,  the  transportation  of  vagabond?; 
and  convicts,  to  Louisiana,  was  forbidden  by  an  ar- 
rest of  the  king's  coUijcil,  of  the  ninth  of  May. 

Two  line  of  battle  ships  came  in  the  latter  part  ot 
June,  from   Toulon.     They  were  in  great  distress: 


i'li 


;•  •  I 


[1720 

;  erected 
v'm^  dis- 
erms,  he 
ssisBippi, 
I  and  the 


in  souiii 
colonists, 
v^orvida!, 
these  In- 
crease of 
anded  by 
'^ebruary, 
Lssengers, 
from   the 

o  thrive, 
ada;  and 
i  its  prin- 
ississippi, 

king,  that 
3d  by  the 
to  clear 
there  had 
breigners, 
e  ground; 
ir  interest 
$e  people 

to  labour 
tants,  the 
^agabondf^ 

by  an  ar- 

ter  part  ot 
t  distress: 


1700] 


THE  NINTH. 


226 


C  jIFiro,  the  commodore,  and  most  of  their  crews  had 
fallen  victims  to  the  plague,  which  some  sailors  in 
these  ships,  who  had  come  from  Marseilles,  h  id  com- 
mu  licated  to  the  others;  that  city  being  ravaged  by 
pestilence,  brought  there  by  a  ship  from  Seyde,  in 
the  Levaiil.  Father  Laval,  a  Jesuit,  royal  proliessor 
of  hv  Irography  in  the  college  of  FouIom,  had,  by  tiie 
king's  order,  taken  p  issage  on  board  of  this  tleet, 
with  directio  IS  to  make  astronomical  observations  in 
Louisiana.  The  chaplains  of  the  ships  having  died, 
the  lather,  considering  scie/ice  an  object  of  miaor 
consideratioii  to  a  minister  of  the  altar,  thought  it  his 
duty  to  bestow  all  his  time  in  admini^itering  spiritual 
relief  to  the  si<:k,  who  for  a  long  time,  were  very 
numerous,  and  he  sailed  back  with  the  ships. 

The  settlement  of  N  itchitoches  was  now  in  a  pros- 
perous situation,  though  weakened  by  the  migration 
of  some  of  the  settlers,  who  had  gone  northerly  in  the 
hope  of  enriching  themselves,  by  a  trade  with  the 
Spani  »rds.  Tliis  chimerical  hope  prevented  atten- 
tion to  the  culture  of  the  land.  Bienville  now  receiv- 
ed the  king's  order,  to  send  ^t.  Denys  to  command 
there,  and  Chateaugue,  who  had  gone  to  France  from 
Havana,  came  in  these  ships,  with  the  appointment 
of  king's  lieutenant  in  Louisiana,  and  succeeded  St. 
Denys,  in  the  command  of  the  fort  at  Mobile.  He 
had,  on  his  way  back,  touched  at  the  Havana,  from 
whence  he  brought  the  French  prisoners  taken  at 
Pensacola. 

One  of  the  company's  ships  arrived  from  the  coast 
of  Africa,  and  landed  five  hundred  negroes. 

The  ill  success  which  had  attended  every  attempt 
to  work  the  mines  that  had  been  discovered  in  Louis- 
iana, was  attributed  to  the  want  of  skill,  in  those  who 
had  been  employed,  rather  than  to  the  poverty  of  the 
ore,  and  the  colonial  government  received  orders  to 

roiJ.  I.  29 


iK' 
i; 


m 

v., 


2ati 


CHAPTER 


[1720 


■'^■i^? 


engage  Don  Anfonio,  a  Spaniard,  who  liad  been  taken 
at  Pensacola,  and  said  he  had  worked  in  the  mines 
of  Mexico.  The  hope  of  obtaining  gold  from  Louis- 
iana could  not  be  easily  abandoned  in  France;  the 
Spaniard  was  sent  up  at  a  great  expense,  but  did  not 
succeed  better  than  Loclion. 

In  the  meanwhile,  Bienville  exerted  himself,  to  in- 
duce his  red  allies  to  attack  the  Chickasaws.  He 
met  with  considerable  dilliculty.  Part  of  the  Choc- 
taws  had  been  gained  by  the  British  :  the  Alibamons 
complained  that  the  PVench  allowed  them  less  for 
their  skins,  than  their  rivals  at  Charleston,  and  sold 
their  goods  much  dearer.  He  at  last  succeeded  with 
the  Choctaws,  and  obtained  a  promise  of  neutrality 
from  the  Alibamorjs,  and  a  passage  for  his  men 
through  their  country.  Pailloux  was  instructed  to 
secure  the  aid  of  the  Natchez  and  Yazous. 

The  colony  received  a  very  large  increase  of  po- 
pulation, during  the  summer  and  fall.  A  company 
ship  brought  sixty  settlers  of  the  grant  of  St.  Cathe- 
rine, under  the  order  of  Beaumanoir,  into  the  country 
of  the  Natchez.  They  were  tbllowed  by  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  others,  under  the  orders  of  Bouteux. 
Delornie,  who  had  lately  been  appointed  director- 
general,  landed  at  Mobile  with  a  company  of  infan- 
try, sixty  settlers  of  the  grant  of  Guiche,  and  one 
hundred  and  fifty  of  that  of  St.  Reine.  In  another 
ship,  Latour,  a  brigadier  general  of  engineers,  and  a 
knight  of  St.  Louis,  accompanied  by  Pauge,  led 
fifty  workmen,  and  Boispinel  and  Choville,  two  otfi- 
cers  of  the  same  corps,  arrived  soon  after,  with  two 
hundred  and  fifty  settlers,  of  the  grant  of  Leblanc  and 
his  associates. 

The  plan  of  settling  the  bay  of  St.  Bernard,  on  the 
west  of  the  Mississippi,  was  still  a  favorite  object  in 
France,  and  Bienville  received,  by  these  vessels,  the 


rL': 


1720J 


THE  NINTH. 


■.)C)'7 


fnsti'uctions  oi' the  directors  of  the  cotnpau},  to  begin 
an  establislimerit  there  immediately.  They  expressed 
their  apprehension,  that  his  delay  might  defeat  their 
plans,  and  the  bay  be  occupied  by  theSpaniards;  and, 
lest  their  injunction  might  be  overlooked,  they  had 
procured  the  king's  special  order  to  Bienville,  for 
that  purpose.  This  project  was  viewed  in  a  difTer- 
ent  light  in  Louisiana;  the  great  distance  from  the 
other  settlements,  which  were  already  too  spare ; 
the  shallowness  of  the  water  near  the  coast,  which 
prevented  large  vessels  from  approaching,  the  bar- 
renness of  the  country,  the  difficulty  of  protecting, 
and  even  communicating  with,  it,  the  small  means 
of  defience,  the  colonial  government  had  at  command,  - 
and  the  thin  population  of  the  province,  appeared  to 
forbid  the  extension  of  settlements  to  the  west  of  the 
Mississippi.  None  of  the  colonial  officers  entertained 
a  different  opinion. 

The  same  unanimity  did  not  prevail  on  a  more  im- 
portant question.  It  was  proposed,  in  a  council  of 
war  to  which  the  officers  of  engineers,  lately  arrived 
from  France,  assisted,  in  the  month  of  November, 
to  remove  the  head  quarters  to  the  New  Biloxi ;  a 
measure  which  was  adopted,  notwithstanduig  the 
opposition  of  Bienville  and  Hubert.  These  two  ad- 
ministrators did  not  agree  as  to  the  place  of  removal. 

Bienville  objected  to  an  immediate  removal.  He 
thought  it  would  occasion  considerable  damage  to 
the  individuals,  who  had  built  at  the  present  place, 
without  any  prospect  of  public  or  private  advantage. 

He  thought,  however,  that  if  a  removal  was  deter- 
mined upon.  New  Orleans  was  the  most  proper  place. 

Hubert  disapproved  also  of  a  removal.  His  opm- 
ion  was,  that  New  Orleans  would  answer  only  as. a 
place  of  deposit;  that  the  spot,  on  which  the  city  oi 
Natchez  now  stands,  was  the  most  proper  site  tor  the 


W 


'    -i 


2'2B 


CIIAPTEIl 


I' 


|.i  ^  !-■ 


capital  of  IIm;  province,  and  would  ere  lojig  become 

its  centre. 

He  felt  so  confident,  in  his  hope  of  being  nblo  to 
induce  the  directors  to  adopt  his  phm.  that  a  lew 
days  after,  he  sailed  for  Franee  for  this  pnrpf)ye: 
but  he  died  shortly  after  his  landing.  H<'  h  id  ob- 
tained the  grant  of  an  immense  tract  on  St.  Cath- 
erine's Creek,  0!i  which  he  had  made  a  large  planta- 
tion with  considerable  improvements.  This  circnm- 
stance  was  some  evidence,  that  he  considered  this 
part  of  the  province  us  that  which  presented  the 
greatest  advantage;  but  his  opponents  in  tlie  eouiicil, 
grounded  on  it  a  suggestion,  that  his  vote  was  inihi- 
enced  by  private  interest. 

Time  has  shown,  that  Bienville's  view  of  the  sub- 
ject was  the  best.  Tlie  sandy  coast  ol"  Biloxi,  dis- 
tant from  fertile  land,  ditlicult  of  approach  for  vessels 
of  burden,  and  withonl  a  satb  anchorage,  olTered  so 
many  disadvaittages,  that  it  is  difficult  to  surmise,  on 
what  ground  it  became  the  choice  of  the  majority. 
It  presents  nothing  to  the  view,  but  interminable 
heaps  of  sand,  interspersed  vNiih  lagoons,  and  a 
growth  of  scattered  stimted  shrul)s.  The  city  of  Nat- 
chez, after  more  than  a  century,  has  not  as  yet  risen 
beyond  the  rank  of  a  smart  village.  It  will  in  lime 
become  the  centre  of  trade,  in  a  circle  of  a  consid- 
erable radius  ;  bui  distant  from  the  sea  tour  hui»dred 
miles,  and,  if  time  be  the  measure  of  distance,  sitnated 
i.)  those  days,  further  from  the  Balizo  than  Bour- 
deaux  by  water,  it  could  have  ailordcd  but  little  pro- 
protection  to  the  ijitermediate  places  between  the  sea 
and  the  settlements  at  Biloxi  or  iViobile. 

Hubert's  views  were  premature  by  several  cen- 
turies. Had  the  French  remained  in  possession  of 
the  wiiole  province  of  Louisiana,  with  the  extent  it 
then  had,  no  doubt,  in  the  course  of  time,  the  spot  on 


[1  ;j»j 
?coiTie 

\h\o  to 
a  i<"W 
rpoye : 
ul  ob- 
.  Catli- 
planta- 
•ircnm- 
p(l   this 
(>(l    the 
council, 
IS  iiillii- 

he  sub- 
)\i,  dis- 
•  vessrly 
fcred  so 
mise,  on 
lajority. 
iiiiinable 
and    a 
of  Nat- 
risen 
in  time 
corisid- 
undred 
tuated 
Bour- 
le  pro- 
the  sea 

al  cen- 
■ssion  of 
xtent  it 
spot  on 


(t 


n^i] 


TIIK  NINTH. 


90*1 


■4 


which  the  city  of  Natchez  stands,  might  have  become 
th<'  centre  of  the  popidation  of  the  colony. 

The  majority  was  probably  intluenced  by  the  com- 
meroial  agents  of  the  company,  who  viewed  New  Bi- 
loxi,  as  the  spot  from  which  their  store  keepers  at 
Mobile.  Pensacola.  Shi[)  Island  and  the  old  J3iloxi. 
might  be  more  conveniently  watched. 

Bienville  complained,  that  these  gentlemen  tlnvart- 
ed  his  views,  and  prevented  the  compaay  from  reap- 
ing the  benefit  from  his  exertions,  which  t!:ey  were 
calcnlated  to  produce. 

A  company  ship  ariived  on  the  third  of  January. 
1721.  with  three  hundred  settlers  of  the  grant  of 
Madame  Chaumont,  on  Pascagoula  river,  and  another 
landed  in*  the  following  month,  eighty  girls  from  the 
Salpetriere,  a  house  of  correction  in  Paris,  with  one 
hundred  otiier  passengers.  It  seems  the  late  order  of 
council,  prohibiting  tiie  transportation  of  vagabonds 
and  convicts,  was  not  considered  as  extending  to 
females. 

In  their  despatches  to  Bienville,  by  these  ships, 
the  directors  expressed  their  grief,  at  the  division 
which  existed  betw  een  him  and  their  priiicipal  agents 
in  Louisiana,  by  whicKthc  affairs  of  the  coinpany  had 
been  brought  to  such  a  situation,  that  it  would  be 
preferable,  that  the  establishment  had  now  to  be 
begun.  The  report  of  the  unfortunate  condition  of 
their  concerns  had  excited  great  murmurs  in  France, 
and  the  direction  was  daily  reproached  for  tlie  im- 
mense expenses  it  had  incurred :  it  w  as  chaj'ged 
w  ith  having  appointed  chiei's  too  careless  of  the  affairs 
of  the  company,  and  too  careful  of  their  own  That 
the  regent,  who  was  informed  of  the  discredit,  in 
which  the  stock  of  the  coinpany  had  fallen,  so  far 
from  keeping  the  promise  he  had  made  of  promoting 
Jijm  to  the  rank  of  a  brigadier,  and  sending  him  the 


■•}■ 


If;.;, 


v^•■ 

v. 


i'M 


u 


HM 


e;ii  Ai'TicK 


[17'^J 


i.r-  i  n 


i:M 


i'l 


broad  ribbon  of  the  order  of  St.  Louis,  would  have 
|)roceed<;(l  a<^.iinst  him  with  Hoverity,  if  lio  had  not 
been  iiiiorined  that  the  cornjiaiiy's  agents  in  the  co- 
lony, had  thwarted  his  views;  that  th(»  directors  Ihit- 
tered  themselves,  tliat  by  sending  out  new  agents, 
and  the  new  arrangements  tliat  were  ahout  to  he 
made,  the  state  of"  things  would  he  changed,  and  tlie 
regent  become  sensible  of  his  merit;  that  his  royal 
Inghness  had  told  them,  the  king's  graces  were  be- 
stowed on  etlective  services  ordy,  and  as  it  was  sug- 
gested, that  he  (Bienville)  might  now  merit  them,  it 
was  proper  to  wait  till  he  might  prove  himself  worthj 
of  them. 

The  directors,  while  they  assured  Bienville  they 
would  foster  the  regent's  good  dispositions  towards 
him,  did  not  conceal  their  disapprobation  of  the  pro- 
motion he  had  made  of  some  non-commissioned  offi- 
cers. They  instructed  him,  for  the  future  to  exercise 
the  right  of  suspension  only,  and  leave  to  them  that 
of  removal  and  appointment.  They  recommended  to 
him  to  correspond  with  the  Marquis  de  Vaudreuil, 
governor-general  of  New  France,  and  to  exert  him- 
self to  induce  his  Indian  allies  to  declare  themselves 
against  the  Sioux,  whom  the  Poxes  had  engaged  in 
their  interest. 

The  fort  at  Kaskaskias  was  ordered  by  the  compa- 
ny to  be  called  Fort  Chartres;  that  of  Mobile,  Fort 
Conde,  and  that  of  Biloxi,  Fort  St.  Louis. 

Orders  were  given  to  Pauger,  to  make  a  survey  of 
the  bay  of  Mobile,  and  the  entrance  of  the  Mississip- 
pi. 

Two  hundred  German  settlers  of  I-iaw's  grant  were 
landed  in  the  month  of  March  at  Biloxi,  out  of  twelve 
hundred  who  had  been  recruited.  The  rest  had  di- 
ed before  they  embarked,  or  on  the  passage.  They 
were  followed  by  five  hundred  negroes  from  the  coast 


[iriJ 


IV^IJ 


THE  NINTH 


ii6) 


1(1  have 
mil  not 
the  co- 
ol's ll'at- 
agciits, 
t  to   he 
111  id  the 
is  roysvl 
vere  hc- 
\'as  suj];- 
tliem.  it 
t'  wortlij 

^ille  they 
towards 
•  the  pro- 
oned  olfi- 
)  exercise 
ttiem  tliat 
nended  to 
'^audreuil, 
jxert  him- 
lemselves 
ngaged  in 

le  compa- 
bile,  Fori 

survey  of 
Mississip- 

rraiit  were 
.  of  twelve 
est  had  di- 
ge.  They 
[n  the  coast 


ofAlrica.  This  i»icreaso  of  population  was  rendered 
less  welcome  liy  the  great  dearth  of  provisions  under 
which  the  colony  laboured. 

Hi<^*nville  desp;itched  a  vessel  to  8t.  Domingo  for  a 
:«upply.  He  ernphjyed  (or  this  service,  I3eranger, 
who  had  lately  arrived  frcun  lfa\ana,  wher<i  he  had 
conveyed  (he  S|)anish  hostag<'s. 

There  came  nmong  I  Ik?  (Jerman  new  comers,  a  fe- 
male adv*Miturer.  She  had  he«Mi  attached  to  the 
wardrobe  of  the  wife  of  the  Czarowitz  Alexius  Petro- 
witz,  the  oidy  son  of  Peter  the  Great.  She  imposed 
on  (he  creduli(y  of  many  persons,  but  particularly  on 
that  of  an  odicer  of  the  garrison  of  Mobile,  (called  by 
Bossu,  the  Chevalier  d'Aubant,  and  by  the  king  of 
Prussia,  Maldeck)  who  having  seen  the  princess  at 
St.  Petersburg,  imagined  he  recognized  her  features 
in  those  ofher  tbrmer  servant,  and  gave  credit  lo  the 
report  which  prevailed,  that  she  was  the  duke  of  VVol- 
tcrd)uttle's  daughtcn-,  whom  the  Czarow  itz  had  marri- 
ed, and  who,  (uuling  herself  treated  with  grea(  cruel- 
ty by  her  husband,  caused  it  to  be  circulated  that  she 
had  died,  while  she  (led  to  a  distant  seat,  driven  by 
the  blows  he  had  indicted  on  her — that  the  Czaro- 
witz  had  given  orders  for  her  private  burial,  and  she 
had  travelled  in(!og  into  France,  and  had  taken  pas- 
sage atL'Orientin  one  of  the  company's  ships  among 
the  German  settlers. 

Her  story  gained  credit,  and  the  officer  married 
her.  After  a  long  residence  in  Louisiana,  she  follow- 
ed him  to  Paris  and  the  island  of  Bourbon,  w  here  he 
had  a  commission  of  major.  Having  become  a  widow 
in  1754,  she  returned  to  Paris,  with  a  daughter,  and 
went  thence  to  Brunswick,  when  her  imposture  was 
discovered;  charity  was  bestowed  on  her,  but  she 
was  ordered  to  leave  the  country.  She  died  in  1771. 
ftt  Paris,  in  great  poverty. 


■1* 


i^3!(! 


OHAI'TKlt 


fnji 


A  similar  iiii)>o.sitioii  was  prarliscd  tor  a  while  with 
considerable  wuccess,  in  the  sonlliein  British  provin- 
ces, a  fi'W  years  het'ore  the  declaration  of  their  inde- 
pend'Mir.e.  A  fenuile.  drivtwi  lor  lier  misconduct  from 
the  s<'rvice  of  a  maid  of  honor  of  princess  Matilda, 
sist(;r  to  George  ill.  was  convicted  at  the  Old  Bailey, 
and  transported  to  Maryland.  She  eHected  her  es- 
cape beibre  the  expiration  of  her  time,  and  trav(dled 
througli  Virginia  and  both  the  ('arolinas,  persniitili.g 
the  princess,  and  levying  contributions  on  the  (sedu- 
lity oi'planters  and  merchants;  and  even  some  of  the 
king's  olficers.  She  was  at  last  arrested  in  Charles- 
ton, prosecuted  and  whipped. 

A  company  sliip  had  sailed  lor  [iOuisiana  in  1718, 
with  troops,  and  one  huiidretl  convicts,  and  had  ne- 
ver been  heard  of  It  was  now  discoi'ered  that,  like 
the  tleet  of  Lasalle,  she  had  missed  1'ie  Mississippi, 
and  had  been  driven  to  the  west.  Her  commarider 
had  mistaken  the  island  of  Cuba  for  ihat  ol'  St.  Do- 
mingo, and  had  been  compelled  to  pass  through  the 
old  channel  to  get  into  the  gulf  He  made  a  large 
bay,  in  the  twenty-nintli  degree  of  latitude,  and  disco- 
vering he  had  lost  his  way,  wandered  lor  several  days. 
His  misfortune  was  increaied  by  a  contagious  disease 
breaking  out  among  the 'jonvicls.  I'^ive  of  his  olH- 
cers,  Bellisle,  Allard,  Delisie,  Legend  re  and  (>orlut, 
thought  it  less  dangerous  to  lan<l,  with  provisions  for 
eight  days  and  their  arms,  than  to  continue  on  board. 
They  hoped  to  meet  some  Indian,  who  might  guide 
them  to  the  settlements  of  the  French;  they  were  dis- 
appointed. All,  except  Belleisle,  lie  i  victins  to  hun- 
ger and  fatigue:  after  burying  tiie  last  of  his  compa- 
nions, he  wandered  for  several  weeks  on  the  shore, 
living  on  shellfish  and  roots.  At  last,  he  fell  in  with 
three  Indians  who  stripped  him.  and  led  him  a  prison- 
er to  their  village,  in  which  he  was  detained  Ibreigh- 


lie  with 
proviii- 
ir  inde- 
ict  iVoni 
klulilda, 

IVciiW'y, 

her  es- 
•jivelled 

^nliuli'.g 

»  (M'edii- 
le  ol"  tlie 
Chiirles- 

in  1718, 
1  had  lUi- 
Ihat,  like 
8sissipi>i, 
ininaiidei' 

r  St.  Do- 

•ough  the 
o  a  hii'i^e 
md  dis(;o- 
;ral<lays. 
IS  disease 
)1"  his  o(H- 
1  Corhit, 
isions  for 
on  hoard. 
hi  guide 
were  dis- 
ns  to  hiin- 
is  com  pa- 
he  shore, 
ell  ill  with 
n  a  prison- 
d  ibr  eigh- 


K 


;r 


1721] 


THE  NINTH. 


2S3 


teen  months;  he  siiflered  much  li'oin  hunger,  fatigue, 
a  id  the  cruelty  of  his  captors.  At  last,  one  of  the  hit- 
ter stoli*  a  small  tin  hox,  in  which  Hellisle  kept  hia 
commission  and  some  otlier  papers.  It  was  purcha- 
.sed  by  an  hidian  of  the  Assiiiais  trihe.  and  accidental- 
ly shewn  to  St.  Deiiys,  who  prevailed  on  some  of 
them  to  go  and  contratU  for  Bellisle's  ransom.  He 
was  thus  released,  and  f()und  his  way  to  Natcliitoch- 
es,wheie. after  str.yiiig  a  w  Idle  to  recover  his  strength, 
he  was  furnished  ihe  means  of  reaching  Hiioxi. 

Paiiger.  Iiaviiig  completed  the  survey  of  the  passes 
of  the   Mississij>pi.  returned   and   made  his  report  to 
Bienville.     He  l()und  the  har  a  deposit  of  mud,  ahout 
three   hundred   feet   wide,  and  ahout  twice  that   in 
length.     It  appeared  to  him  it  was  occasioned  hy  the 
current  of  the   river  and  the  llux  of  the  sea  which, 
greatly  ohstructing  the  current,  caused  the  river  to 
overflow.     He  took  notice  that  the  stream,  heing  ve- 
ry mud  ly,   left   on   its  shores  and  islands,  heaps  of 
timh'M*.  covered  hy  annual  layers  of  mud;  the  smal- 
ler timber  tilling  up  the  interstices,     in  this  manner, 
islands,  and  new  land  along  the  shore,  were  incessant- 
ly formed;  and  after  a  few  years,  canes  and  w illows  be- 
gan to  rise  on  the  crust  formed  by  several  layers.  He 
expressed  his  opinion,  that  with  little  trouble,  by  gi- 
ving a  proper  direction  to  the  floating  timber,  dykes 
might  be  formed  along  one  of  the  channels,  and  by 
sinking  old  vessels,  so  as  to  stop  the  others  ;  the  velo- 
city of  the  water  might  be  increased  in  the  former, 
and  a  very  great  depth  obtained  in  time;  an  opera- 
tion which  he  said  was  now  forming  in  some  parts  of 
the  passes — one  of  which  he  had  noticed  the  prece- 
ding year,  when  he  found  on  it  but  ten  or  eleven  feet 
of  water,  and  eight  months  after,  from  thirteen  to  four- 
teen ;  while  a  bar  had  extended  to  the  island  of  the 
Bahze,  which  was  one  hundred  and  eighteen  feet  if 
LOU.  I.  30 


it.  • 


99<1 


iiiArrioK 


[nx2 


wi  f. 


widlh,  and  iloiiMr  that  in  Icnjrtli  willi  Miirniirionrr  in 
iUo  mi(l<llr,  iK'Ibnj  wliicli  ships  mi«:;lit  ride?  in  c>i;^lit<MMi 
Icct  ofuatrr. 

\i\  llio  s|)rin<ij.  u  (Jiiiiicnrnau  InndccI  two  hiiiidrrd 
and  niiiPt)'  n('<;iO('>^.  nnd  reported  lliat  another  had 
caijf^ht  lire,  at  the  distance  ol" sixty  h'a«;u<^s  from  the 
shore;  part  ol'lho  crow  had  saved  tlieniselves  in  the 
long  boat,  the  rest  perislieil. 

Aceonnts  were  received  from  the  Illinois  that  a  par- 
ty ofthree  hinidred  Spaniards  had  marched  Ironi  San- 
ta Fc  to  tl)o  npper  pari  ol  the  provinc«!,  uhile  they 
expected  a  lleet  would  attack  it  on  the  shore.  Se- 
venty ol'them  only  had  persevered  in  the  attempt,  <»;ui- 
ded  Wy  l^adonra  Indians,  who  directcul  them  so  north- 
erly, that  they  reached  the  river  of  the  (.'anseys  near 
the  Missouri,  where  tlicv  IMi  anioiiir  Indians,  allies  ot 
the  1'  rench,  w  ho  destroy<Ml  iheni  all.  except  their 
chief,  the  swiftness  of  whose  horse  secin-ed  his  salety. 

On  the  lourih  of  June,  two  hundred  and  lifly  pas- 
se:itr(>rs.  chielly  Ciermans.  came  in  a  com|)any  ship. 
Marijr.iy  de  Alandevill*'.  who  had  <»;one  to  France, 
where  he  had  ohlained  the  cross  of  St.  Louis  and  the 
coann  uid  ol  Fort  Co.ide,  returned  in  her,  accompani- 
ed hy  (rArensl)ourg,  a  Swedish  otlicer,  and  three 
others. 

I'y  this  vessel,  the  colonists  learnt  the  I'ailnre  and 
sudden 'lepirture  fro!n  1'^  ranee  ol  the  celebrated  Law. 
This  <>;ave  room  to  the  aj)prehension,  that  the  settle- 
ment  of  the  province  might  be  abandoned  or  prosecu- 
ted wil!i  k'ss  vig()ur.  ' 

Another  (uiineaman  landed  three  hundred  negroet 
ii  few  davs  after. 

John  Law%  of  Lauriston,  in  North  Britain,  was  a 
celebrated  financier,  who  having  gained  the  confi- 
dence of  the  Duke  of  Orleans,  regent  of  France,  set- 
tled at  Paris:  where,  under  the  auspices  of  govorn- 


I; 


I7««) 


rilH  MXTH 


ISo 


1 1 
<  r 


nrnrr  in 


motit,  lir  rst.ihlishrd  a  l»niik.  with  a  capital  of  twelve 
hmidrc*!  lliuiisaiid  dollirs.  Soon  alter,  ^overnnuMit 
l»«  came  lai-y^ely  iiiti-rested  in  it,  and  it  assumed  tfie 
numeol'llie  Koyal  l^ank,  'I'lie  (nii»inal  projet'toreon- 
tiiiiied  attlie  li<>ad  ot'its  atliiiis,  and.  a\  ailing  himself 
ot  the  thirst  li)r  speculation,  w  Inch  its  success  exi'ited, 
1'  lined  the  scheme  of  a  lari;e  commercial  compa- 
ny, to  which  it  was  intended  to  transfer  all  the  privi- 
Icires,  possessions  and  eirecls  of  the  foreijrn  trading 
companies,  that  had  heen  incorporated  in  France. 
The  royal  hank  was  to  he  attached  to  it.  The  regent 
gave  it  letters  patent,  under  the  style  of  the  Western 
Company.  Trom  ih,*  mighty  stream,  tiiat  traverses 
Louisiana,  Law's  undertaking  wan  called  the  Missis- 
sippi scdieme.  The  r'xclusive  trade  to  China  and  all 
the  east  indies  was  afterwards  granted  to  the  company 
now  called  tin?  India  Company.  Chancellor  d'Agues- 
seau  opposed  the  plan  with  so  much  earnestness,  that 
the  regent  look  the  seals  from  hitn  and  exiled  him  to 
his  estate. 

The  stockholders  flattered  themselves,  that  the 
vast  cpianlity  of  land,  and  the  valuable  property  the 
company  possessed,  would  enahle  it  to  make  profits 
fur  exceeding  those  of  the  most  successful  adventur- 
ers. Accordingly,  the  directors  declared  a  dividend 
of  two  hundred  per  cent.  The  delusion  was  so  com- 
plete, that  the  stock  rose  to  sixty  times  its  original 
cost.  The  notes  of  the  bank  took  the  place  ol"  the 
paper  securities  government  had  issued,  and  so  great 
was  the  demand  (or  them,  that  all  the  metallic  medi- 
um was  paid  into  the  bank. 


un,  was  a 


Charlevoix. — Luharpe. — Vergennes. — Duprat: 


'i'M' 


CHAP  r Ell 


[17^* 


lf  t, ., 


^  ku; 


\  .f ; 


CHAPTER  X. 

Dnvcrgicr. — Bcnarddc  Laharpc. — Haj^  of  Si.  /^rrnarci.-*- 
De  JMasillicrcy  Dudcmnme  and  Duplrsnc. — ./]  Ginnca- 
man. — Principal  establishment  ordered  to  be  removed  to 
JVcw  Orleans. — Survejf  of  the  ricer  of  the  ./]rkaiisas. — 
The  JVlarqids  de  Gallo. — Cliickasaw  hostilities. — Father 
Charlevoix. —  Toulouse  Island. — Loubois. — Latour. — 
Price  of  JVegroes.,  Tobacco  and  Rice  fixed. — Copper 
coinarre. — Militarif.,  Civil  and  Relii{ious  divisions  of 
the  Province. — Larenaudiere — German  Coast. — Fence 
with  Spain. — Pcnsacola  restored. — Chickasaw  hostili- 
ties amonu;  the  Ya2(>ns. — P^ort  on  the  Afissouri. — Capu- 
chins.— ^'1  hurricane. — Hostilities  committed  by  the  JVat- 
chez. — ^n  unexpected  crop  of  rice. —  The  directors  re- 
m,ove  to  JVew  Orleans. — t/]  Swiss  companij  deserts  to 
Charleston. — Large  grants  of  land. — Indigo. — St.  Jo- 
seph abandoned. — Spanish  force  in  the  province  of 
Texas. —  The  Choctaws  defeat  the  Chickasaws. — jUter- 
ations  in  the  value  of  coin. — Jesuits. —  The  Catholic,  the. 
onhj  religion  tolerated. — Fxpidsion  oj  the  Jews. — Black 
Code. — FAlict  relating  to  correspondence. — Edict  rela- 
/ini{  to  f'orses  and  cattle. — De  la  Chaise  and  Fcrratdt. — 
Philip  I  .  abdicates  the  throne. — Ijouis  ascends  it  and 
dies. — Philip  resumes  the  crown. — Superior  Council. 
Treaties  with  the  Jesuits.,  Capuchins  and  Crsvline  JVuns. 
Ferricr. — (i-orgc  II. — Girls  de  la  Cassette. — Improve- 
ments in  JVew  Orleans. — Land  regulations. 


*j^  i' 


ON  the  filteenth  of  July,  Du  verifier,  who  had  late- 
ly been  appointed  Director,  Ordoiinateur,  Command- 
ant of  the  Marine  and  President  of  the  Council,  land- 
ed at  Pcnsacola.  He  brought  crostics  of  St.  Louis 
for  Boisbrianl.  Chateaugue  and  8t  Denys. 


'■*&-: : 


mm.,  i 


i  722] 


THK  TENTH. 


i'JI 


The  Company,  more  intent  on  extending  than  im- 
proviny;  its  possessions  in  Louisiana,  had  determin- 
ed,  notwithstanding  the  unanimous  representations  of 
Bienville  and  all  the  eolonial  olficers,  to  have  an  es- 
tablishment on  the  gull  to  the  west  of  the  Mississippi. 
For  this  purpose  Bernard  de  la  Harpe  eame  over  with 
Duvergier,  having  been  appointed  Commandant 
and  inspector  of  commerce  at  the  bay  of  St.  Bernard. 
Masilliore,  administrator  of  the  grant  of  the  Marquis 
dp  Mezieres,  Desmarches,  Dudemaine  and  Duplesne, 
his  associates  accompanied  him. 

The  arrival  of  Duvergier  with  such  ample  powers 
gave  much  uneasiness  to  Bienville,  who,  while  he  re- 
mained if)  command,  could  not  brook  to  be  excluded 
from  the  presidency  of  the  council.  Chateaugue, 
who  had  the  rank  of  a  captain  i[)  the  royal  navy, 
thought  himself  injured  by  the  command  of  the  navy 
being  given  to  another,  and  Delorme  imagined  his 
pretentions  to  the  olHce  of  Ordonnateur  had  been 
overlooked. 

Three  hundred  negroes  arrived  from  Africa  on  the 
15th  of  August. 

The  occupation  of  the  bay  of  St.  Bernard,  notwith- 
standing the  positive  orders  of  which  Laharpe  wai? 
the  bearer,  was  still  viewed  in  Louisiana  as  a  prema- 
ture operation,  attended  with  considerable  and  use- 
less expense,  recpiiring  a  number  of  men,  who  could 
not  well  be  spared,  and  promising,  if  any,  none  but 
very  precarious  and  distant  advantages.  The  diffi- 
culty of  protecting  and  suppl)'ing  so  distant  a  post, 
the  extrerne  barrenness  of  the  soil  to  the  extent  that 
had  been  explored,  the  ferocity  of  the  Indians  in  the 
neighbourhood,some  of  whom  were  said  to  be  anthro- 
pophagi, appeared  to  present  unsurmountable  obsta- 
cles, while  no  probable  advantage  could  be  contempla- 
ted, but  the  preservation  of  the  possession,  which  La- 


■•at  [■-' 


^5'  '"^-'il 

'■■■•    '   '.    -il 

'    ^■'         '         '     LI 


■y   !■  I- 


i'  \k  i' 


liiU 


CIJAPTER 


[rri't 


■..   ifS, 


sallc  hiid  l.iken  of  that  part  of  the  country,  thirty  six 
yoais  before,  in  which  his  litie  and  that  ol  the  greatest 
part  of  his  followers  fiadbeen  sacrificed.  Laharpe  was 
now  arrived  with  a  coinmission,  of  which  he  was  im- 
patient to  avail  himself,  and  Bienville  gave  his  reluc- 
tant assent  to  the  measure. 

Beranger  was  directed  to  carry  the  new  comman- 
dant and  liiirty  men  to  the  bay ;  fifteen  barrels  of 
tlour  and  as  many  of  meat  were  spared  for  their  use. 

The  we;)kness  of  the  detachment,  and  the  siiiall- 
ness  of  the  supply  (both,  in  the  opinion  of  Laharpe 
inadequate)  furnished  him  irrefragable  proof  that  he 
was  starting  on  an  expedition,  in  which  the  best 
wishes  of  Bienville  did  not  attend  him.  lie  weighed 
anchor  on  the  twenty-sixth  of  August. 

His  instructions  Irom  the  company  were  to  take 
formal  possession  of  the  country,  and  to  set  up  a  post 
with  the  arms  of  France,  on  some  conspicuous  part  of 
the  shore — to  build  a  Ibrt  and  secure  by  treaties  the 
amity  and  good  will  ot  as  many  of  the  Indian  tribes 
as  he  could.  If  he  met  any  Spanish  force,  in  the 
country,  he  was  directed  to  represent  to  the  com- 
mandant, that  "it  belonged  to  the  crown  of  France,  by 
virtue  of  the  possession  taken  by  Lasalle,  in  168.'),  and 
in  case  he,  or  any  other  stranger,  insisted  on  the 
right  of  staying,  to  remove  him  by  force. 

The  order  of  the  council  for  the  removal  of  head 
quarters  to  Biloxi  was  now  executed,  and  Bienville, 
with  his  staff  removed  thither,  leaving  Marigny  in 
command  at  FortConde. 

Since  the  departure  of  Law  from  France,  the  af- 
fairs of  the  company  there,  had  fallen  into  great 
confusion  and  disorder,  and  very  little  attention  was 
given  to  the  supplies  that  were  needed  in  Louisiana. 
None  being  procured  by  agriculture,  provisions  be- 
came   extremely  scarce.      To   provide  against    thr 


112^1 


THE  TENTH. 


Jciit 


distress  of  imperitling  fnmine,  such  ottho  troops,  as 
could  be  spared  from  the  service  of  the  posts,  were 
sent,  in  small  detachments,  to  Pearl  river,  i*ascagoula 
and  among  the  Indians,  to  procure  their  subsistence 
by  fishing  atid  hunting.  Their  unskilfulness,  in  this 
mode  of  seeking  sustenance,  made  it  necessary  to 
have  recourse  to  impressment.  This  measure  caus- 
ed great  murmurs  among  the  planters;  but  the 
scarcity  of  provisions  was  productive  of  more  dread- 
ful consocpiences  among  the  soldiers.  Twenty-six 
men,  Avho  were  in  garrison  at  Fort  Toulouse,  on  the 
river  of  the  Alibamons,  exasperated  by  hunger  and 
distress,  mutinied,  aiul  rising  against  Marchand,  their 
commander,  marched  off'with  their  arms  and  baggage, 
in  the  expectation  of  findiiig  their  way  to  the  back 
settlements  of  Carolina.  Villemont,  the  lieutenant, 
immediately  rode  to  the  village  and  prevailed  ori  the 
Indians  to  go  and  way-lay  tfie  deserters ;  they  were 
overpowered,  by  the  savage  assailants,  but  not  with- 
out great  carnage.  Sixteen  were  killed,  and  two 
only  escaped.  The  other  eight  being  made  prisoners, 
were  broudit  to  Fort  Louis  and  soon  after  executed. 

In  the  latter  part  of  September,  the  colony  was,  in 
some  measure,  relieved  by  the  arrival  of  a  ship  from 
France,  with  provisions.  She  brought  accounts  that 
the  Regent  had  placed  the  affairs  of  the  company 
under  the  direction  of  three  commissioners.  Thev 
were  Ferrand,  Faget  arid  Machinet. 

Laharpe  returned  from  the  bay  of  St.  Bernard,  on 
the  third  of  October.  He  reported  he  had  proceed- 
ed three  hundred  miles  westerly  from  the  Mississippi. 
On  the  27th  of  August,  he  had  entered  a  bay  in  lati- 
tude 29.  5.  which  he  took  for  the  one  he  was  sent  to. 
He  found,  on  the  bar,  at  its  entrance,  eleven  feet  of 
water,  and  having  crossed  it  he  sailed  westerly;  the 
ioundinfi^  s;a\<'  all    along  from  fifteen  to  twenty  feet 


'n:i 


I; 


s:' 


240 


CHAPTER 


[172S; 


MM 


Ir:; 


There  was  a  small  island,  at  the  entrance  of  the  bay. 
Bellisle,  Laharpe's  lieutenant,  having  gone  on  shore 
on  the  29lh,  met  a  party  of  Indians,  about  forty  in 
number,  many  of  whom  offered  to  come  on  board. 
He  suffered  six  of  them  to  enter  his  boat ;  others 
followed  in  four  canoes.  They  were  entertained  on 
board  of  the  vessel,  and  amoiig  other  presents  a  dog, 
a  cock  andafew  hens  were  given  them;  they  seemed 
greatly  pleased  vvitli  them. 

On  the  next  day,  Bellisle  having  again  landed  with 
a  few  soldiers,was  met  by  some  olthese  Indians,  who 
led  him  to  their  village.  The  FVench  were  hospita- 
bly received,  and  mdde  a  tew  presents  to  their  hosts  ; 
and  the  soldiers,  with  a  view  of  show  ing  them  the 
effect  of  gun  powder,  made  a  discharge  of  their 
pieces. 

Bellisle  visited  the  Indians  agairj  on  the  next  day. 
He  told  them  the  intention  of  the  French,  in  coming 
to  the  bay,  was  to  settle  and  live  in  friendship  with 
the  natives,  and  afford  them  protection  against  their 
enemies.  They  replied  they  would  communicate 
this  to,  and  consult,  their  countrymen. 

On  the  second  of  September,  the  Indians  continu- 
ing to  evince  great  reserve,  the  vessel  proceeded 
farther  westerly.  Laharpe  and  Bellisle  went  several 
times  ashore,  attended  by  a  few  soldiers,  to  view  the 
country,  without  seeing  any  Indians.  Sailing  N.  W^ 
and  N.  N.  W.  for  two  leagues,  they  came  to  an  island, 
at  the  distance  of  a  musket  shot  from  the  main. 
Here  a  number  of  Indians  came  on  board,  while 
many  others  appeared  on  the  shore  on  horseback, 
ranged  in  battle  array.  This  induced  Laharpe  to 
forbear  landing.  The  vessel  proceeded  to  another 
island  near  the  main,  and  sailing  farther  on  they  found 
a  river  flowing  through  a  wide  prairie.  The  river 
was  wide,  its  water  excellent,  and  the  current  slow. 


,iM 


nsaj 


THE  TKNTH 


;^41 


Saili?)^  alonfijtlio  coast,  several  miles  farther,  they 
cast  auehorat  riigjht,  before  a  ehister  of* cabins.  La- 
harpe  and  Hellish'  lijoing  ashore  on  the  next  day  were 
coldly  received.  The  squaws  began  to  yell,  striking 
their  sides  and  screaming  horridly  The  men  asked 
Laharpo  for  some  li^oods  ;  he  answered  all  the  goods 
the  Frencli  had  brought  were  still  on  board  oi'lheir 
vessol.  and  the  men  in  the  boat  had  come  widi  o 
other  intention  than  to  see  the  country  and  pay  the 
inhabitants  a  friendly  visit :  they  were  answered  one 
should  not  come  empty  handed  among  strangers.  A 
vehement  debate  ensued,  which  induced  the  French 
to  apprehend  that  they  would  be  massacred.  The 
pirty,  who  were  lor  moderate  measures,  at  last  pre- 
vailed, and  the  French  were  presented  with  some 
dried  meat  and  roots. 

Laharpe  hiving  repeated  his  intention  of  settling 
on  tfie  coast,  the  Indians  expressed  their  absolute 
disapprobation  of  it ;  urging  that  they  were  afraid  of 
the  French,  notwithstanding  he  represented  to  them 
their  opposition  would  bringdown  against  them  the 
Assinais  and  other  tribes,  allies  of  his  nation.  They 
persisted  in  asserting  their  fixed  determimtiori  not  to 
allow  him  to  settle,  and  their  wish  that  the  vessel 
should  depart. 

According  to  the  observation  Laharpe  made,  the 
shore  of  the  bay  extended  to  the  south,  in  a  series  of 
hills  and  prairies,  interspersed  with  well  timbered 
land.  In  the  bottom  of  the  bay,  he  saw^  a  river,  the 
mouth  of  which  appeared  to  be  about  one  huntlred 
jards  wide. 

On  the  fifth,  a  number  of  Indians  came  on  board, 
unarmed.  Laharpe  was  unttble  to  prevail  on  them 
to  consent  to  his  making  a  settlement  in  their  coun- 
try. 

Finding  that  the  number  of  Indians  on  the  bay  wa^^ 

i.ov.  I.  31 


I- 


%  ^ 


'   I 


wz 


CHAPTER 


(172'J 


1 


^'^ 


considerable,  and  that  but  little  dependence  could 
be  placed  in  his  soldiers,  he  united  with  his  lieuten- 
ant in  the  opinion,  that  it  would  be  imprudent  to  at- 
tempt to  force  himself  upon  the  natives;  but  he  took 
the  ill  judged  resolution  to  carry  off'a  few  of  them  by 
stratagem,  in  the  hope,  that  the  manner  in  which  they 
would  be  received  at  Fort  St.  Louis,  and  the  view  of 
the  establishment  of  the  French  there,  might  operate 
on  their  minds,  so  as  to  conquer  their  obstinacy,  and 
dispose  their  countrymen  to  forbear  any  further  op- 
position to  the  settlement  of  the  French  among  them. 

Accordingly,  he  detained  twelve  of  his  visitors,  as 
hostages  for  some  of  his  men  who  were  sent  ashore  for 
water,  dismissing  the  other  Indians  with  presents.  He 
learned  from  his  captives,  that  their  nation  was  at 
war  with  the  Assinais  and  the  Adayes,  and  that  a  num- 
ber of  Spaniards  had  lately  passed  through  tiieir 
country  with  large  droves  of  cattle. 

The  water  being  brought,  the  anchor  was  weigh- 
ed, and  the  vessel  went  into  deep  water.  At  night 
the  Indians  manifested  their  uneasiness,  and  wished 
to  be  sent  ashore,  but  were  told  to  wait  till  the  morn- 
ing. 

At  sunrise,  Laharpe  sent  nine  of  them  into  the  ca- 
bin, and  made  a  few  soldiers  stand  by  with  fixed  bay- 
onets, to  prevent  any  of  them  to  come  out.  This  pre- 
caution excited  great  alarm  among  them,  and  they 
manifested  their  apprehension  that  their  destruction 
was  intended.  They  were  told  not  to  fear  any  thing 
for  themselves  or  their  companions— that  they  would 
be  carried  to  the  chief  of  the  French,  in  order  that  he 
might  learn  from  them  the  motives  of  their  people  in 
preventing  his  warriors  from  settling  among  them, 
after  receivi  ig  the  presents  he  had  sent  them — that 
they  would  be  treated  kindly  and  allow  ed  soon  to  re- 
turn. 


1722] 


THE  TENTH. 


24; 


The  Indians  on  deck  were  now  furnished  with  a 
canoe  to  reach  the  shorp.  Laharpe  made  them  a 
few  presents,  and  recommended  to  them  not  to  allow 
the  Spaniards  to  settle  in  their  country.  Immediate- 
ly on  their  leaving  the  vessel,  the  guard  was  remo- 
ved, the  Indians  in  the  cahin  allowed  to  come  on 
deck,  and  a  boat  was  sent  on  shore  to  set  up  a  post 
on  a  point  of  land,  with  a  leaden  plate  on  which  the 
arms  of  France  were  engraven. 

The  Indians  on  board  still  imagined  they  were  to 
be  landed  ;  but  on  the  return  of  the  boat,  they  disco- 
vered their  error,  and  endeavoured  by  various  means 
to  induce  Laharpe  to  change  his  determination; 
sometimes  telling  him,  if  he  kept  in,  he  would  run  on 
the  shoals;  at  other  times  offering  to  conduct  him  to 
places  where  good  oysters  were  to  be  had,  or  to  point 
out  spots,  in  which  treasures  were  hidden. 

According  to  the  information  of  the  Indians,  and 
the  judgment  of  Laharpe,  the  bay  he  came  from  was 
the  one  Don  Martin  de  Alacorne  discovered  in  1718, 
which  he  placed  in  twenty-nine  degrees,  five  min- 
utes, and  which  he  called  del  Spiritu  Santo. 

Bienville  highly  disapproved  the  conduct  of  La- 
harpe in  decoying  these  Indians,  and  gave  orders  to 
carry  them  back  immediately;  but  while  preparations 
were  making,  they  escaped  and  sought  their  home  by 
land. 

No  further  attempt  to  settle  the  bay  of  St.  Bernard 
appears  ever  to  have  been  made  by  the  French.  La- 
harpe was  greatly  mortified  at  the  abandonment  of  the 
plan.  He  thought  considerable  advantages  might 
have  been  derived  from  it,  as  the  situation  of  the  bay 
afforded  safe  harbours  and  a  great  facility  to  com- 
merce with  the  Spaniards,  and  its  navigable  rivers 
Hivited  population.  The  scarcity  of  provisions,  arms 
and  ammunition  in  the  colony,  the  smallness  of  its  mi- 


•I. 


244 


CHAPTER 


[)72ii 


litnry  force,  in  rrlation  to  llio  many  posts  to  l»o  pro- 
tritlrd,  wore  coiisidcrt'd  by  the  coloiiiiil  atliniiiistra- 
tion,  as  iiisiipcraMc  obstacles. 

On  the  day  alter  Laliarpe's  ictnni.  l/icnvill''  learnt 
by  <lespal<'lHs  iVoin  llie  cominisf-ioiicrs,  t!i;jl  lie  was? 
reslored  in  tlie  presidency  ol  the  conned,  and  they 
had  resolved  that  the  prin<'ip:d  eslMhli^hinent  ot'lhe 
colony  should  he  rento'  ed  to  New  Orleans.  I  hey  al- 
so direeled  h'nn  to  order  a  survey  ollhe  ri\er  of  the 
Arkansas,  with  the  view  of  ascertainii.}:;  how  tar  it 
was  naviirahle.  It  seenis  tlie  council  of  the  company 
in  France  still  thoui;lit  it  their  interest  to  extcMul  ilt; 
possessions  in  Louisiana,  ratlier  than  to  avail  them- 
selves of  the  advantajros  the  part  now  occupied 
presented.  TlK'y  ll.itterrd  themselves  that  hy  pur- 
suing their  discoveries  to  the  west,  mines  otlhe  pre- 
cious metals  mjujit  he  reached,  or  a  trade  with  the 
Spaniards  insured.  The  latter,  however,  were  not 
inattentive  to  the  \ievvs  ol  the  French. 

St.  Denys,  who  commanded  at  the  tort  of  Natchi- 
toches, was  apprised  l)y  a  trader  from  the  Ad  ayes, 
that  the  Marijuis  de  Gallo,  lately  appointed  governor 
of  the  province  of  Texas,  had  come  among  these  In- 
dians, with  four  hundred  horsemen,  and  about  fifty 
thousand  dollars  worth  of  goods;  he  had  also  a  large 
number  of  waggons  loaded  with  j)rovisions  and  effects. 
He  had  begun  to  burn  bricks  tor  a  fort  which  he  in- 
tendeil  to  build  ininiodiately.  The  unpleasant  intbr- 
mation  was  received  al  the  same  time  that  theCliick- 
asavvs  had  murderid  two  Canadians. 

In  pursuance  of  the  orders  of  the  connnissioners. 
Delorme  jemovcd  to  New  Orleans  on  the  first  of  No- 
vend  )er. 

Laharpe.  fin<ling  himself  unemployed  by  the  de- 
termir.alioi:  of 'he  colonial  administrators  to  suspend 
the   r-xocuiion   of  the  plan  of  settling  the  bay  of  St. 


1723] 


THE  TENTH. 


24i 


Bernard,  oflcrcil  his  sorvicos  to  Pirnville  for  thr  exe- 
cution of  the  orders  of  tlie  coinmissioiieis  in  regiircl  to 
the  river  of  the  Arkansas. 

Notwithstandiiio;  this  measure  was  positively  or- 
dered by  the  cotmnissioners,  the  company's  agent  op- 
posed it  strenuously.  Bienville  however,  consider- 
ed it  as  one  ol  vi([d  importance.  He  was  anxious  to 
establish  a  post  in  that  part  of  the  province,  to  pro- 
tect the  commerce  with  the  Illinois,  and  facilitate  the 
introduction  of  cattle  from  the  Spanish  provinces. 

Laharpe  was  detached  with  sixteen  men  for  this 
service.  lie  was  directed  after  havinsr  rested  fiis 
meii.  at  the  montii  of  the  river,  to  ascend  its  main 
branch  as  hiiili  as  he  could,  to  lake  notice  ofeverv 
island  and  creek,  to  look  for  mines  and  in  case  he 
discovered  any  to  bring  some  of  the  ore.  In  case 
of  any  attempt  on  the  part  of  the  Spaniards  to  eflfect 
a  settlement  on  any  of  these  streams,  the  same  in- 
structions were  given  him,  as  when  he  went  to  the 
bay  of  St.  Bernard,  to  insist  on  the  possession,  taken 
by  Lasalle  in  1078,  when  he  descendi'd  the  Mississipi. 

[n  December  father  Charbnoix  n>aclie<l  Louisiana 
from  Canada,  by  the  way  of  the  Illinois.  Jle  stop- 
ped at  the  fort  of  the  Yazous,  spent  the  Christmas 
holidays  at  the  Natchez,  and  lloaled  down  to  New- 
Orleans,  wl  icli  he  reached  on  the  sixth  of  January. 

He  gave  out  that  he  had  the  king's  order  to  seek 
a  northwest  passage  to  China,  and  to  inquire  into  the 
slate  of  the  southern  province;  but  as  he  produced  no 
official  letter,  not  much  credit  was  given  to  his  as- 
sertion. He  was  however  treated,  wherever  he  went, 
with  considerable  attention. 

New  Orleans,  according  to  his  account,  consisted 
at  that  time  of  one  hundred  cabitjs,  placed  without 
much  order,  a  lirge  woolen  warehouse,  two  or 
three   dwelling  houses,  that  would  not  have  adorned 


.1. 


,    i 


•  1 


k' 


!k"  t 


S'Hi 


CHAPTLA 


L  17^45 


a  village,  and  a  miserable  store  house,  which  had 
been  at  first  occupied  as  a  chapel ;  a  shed  heiiig  now 
used  for  this  purpose.  Its  population  did  not  exceed 
two  hundred  persons. 

The  father  stopped  at  the  island  of  the  Balise, 
which  had  just  been  formed.  He  ch.'iunted  a  hi<rli 
mass  on  and  blessed  it,  according  to  the  ritual  of  his 
church.  He  gave  it  the  nam"  of  Toulouse  island, 
which  it  does  not  appear  to  have  long  retained. 

The  oidy  settlements  then  begun  Ixdow  the 
Natchez  were  thoseof  St.  Ileineand  Madam  de  Mei-iie- 
res,  a  little  below  Pointe  Cou()ee — that  of  iJiion 
d'Artaguette,  at  Baton  Honge — that  of  Paris, 
near  bayou  Manchac — that  of  the  Marquis  d'An- 
conis,  below  Lafourche — that  of  the  Marquis 
d'Artagnac,  at  Cannes  Hrnies — that  of  de  Meuse  a 
little  below,  and  a  plantation  of  three  brothers  of  the 
name  ofChauvin,  lately  come  from  Canada,  at  the 
Tchapiloulas. 

Charlevoix  reached  Fort  St.  Louis  of  the  Biloxi  on 
the  thirty-first  of  January,  and  left  it  on  the  twenty 
fourth  of  March  for  Hispaniola. 

Duvergier  returned  to  France  in  the  same  month. 

Loubois,  a  knight  of  St.  Louis,  arrived  soon 
after  and  took  the  command  of  Fort  St.  Louis,  and 
Latour  received  the  commission  of  lieutenant  gene- 
ral of  the  province,  much  to  the  mortification  of  Bien- 
ville and  Chateaugue. 

The  Commissioners  forwarded  for  publication  a  set 
of  rules  they  had  adopted  for  the  management  of  the 
company's  concerns  in  Louisiana.  They  provided 
that  negroes  should  be  sold  at  six  hundred  and 
seventy  livres,  or  one  hundred  and  seventy-six  dollars, 
payable  in  three  annual  instalments,in  rice  or  tobacco. 

Rice  was  received  at  twelve  livres  or  three  dollars 
the  barrel,  and  tobacco  at  twenty-six  livres  or  six 
dollars  and  fifty  centF 


Si. 


hich  lind 
c'ni^  now 
>t  exceed 


10  Btilise, 
J  a  hiirh 
iial  of  his 
so  islaiul, 

0(1. 

-low  tlie 
lo  Moi^io- 
ol"  Uiron 
•f  Paris, 
lis  d'An- 
Marquis 
Mouse  a 
ers  of  the 
a,  at   the 

Biloxi  on 
e  twenty 

month, 
/ed   soon 
ouis,  and 
aint  gene- 
1  of  Bien- 

tion  a  set 
nt  of  the 
provided 
red  and 
X  dollars, 
tobacco, 
e  dollars 
fi   or  six 


t7«3] 


THK  TENTH 


i.'-l'i' 


Wine  was  sold  at  twenty-six  livres  or  six  dollars 
and  fifty  oonts  tfio  barrel,  and  brandy  at  one  hundrod 
and  Iwonly  livros  or  thirty  dollars  the  (juarler  cask. 

A  copper  coinat!;o  had  lately  been  struck  fo."  the 
use  of  (he  king's  colonies  in  America,  and  ordered  to 
be  used  in  the  p  lytnent  of  the  troops.  It  was  declared 
a  lawful  tender  in  the  company  stores. 

The  province  for  civil  and  military  purposes, 
was  now  divided  into  nine  districts.  Alibamons,  Mo- 
bile, Biloxi,  New  Orleans,  Natchez,  the  Yazous,  tbe 
Illinois  and  Wabash,  Arkansas  and  Natchitoches. 
A  commandant  and  judge  was  directed  to  be  appoint- 
ed in  each. 

For  religious  purposes,  there  were  three  principal 
divisions.  The  first  was  under  the  care  of  the  capu- 
chins, and  extended  from  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi 
to  the  lillinois.  The  barefooted  Carmelites  attended 
to  the  second,  which  included  the  civil  districts  of 
Biloxi,  Mobile  and  Alibamons.  The  Wabash  and 
Illinois  formed  the  last,  confided  to  the  Jesuits. 
Churches  and  chapels  were  directed  to  be  built  at 
convenient  distances.  Before  this  time,  in  many 
places,  large  wooden  crosses  were  raised  at  conven- 
ient places,  and  the  people  assembled  around  them, 
sheltered  by  trees,  to  unite  in  prayer. 

The  Chickasaws  continued  their  hostilities :  they 
attacked  a  Canadian  pirogue,  descending  the  Mis- 
sissippi, near  Fort  Prudhomme  and  killed  two  of  the 
men. 

In  the  month  of  May,  Fouquet  brought  to  Biloxi 
the  portion  of  the  late  copper  coinage,  for  the  pro- 
vince. 

La  Renaudierc,  an  officer,  who  had  been  sent  at 
the  head  of  a  brigade  of  miners,  by  the  directors,  now 
led  them  up  the  Missouri.  Their  labour  had  no 
ot  her  effect  than  to  yhew  how   much  the  company 


<l 


\m 


lit    ' 


2AU 


rriAPTKK 


fl72.s 


vvns  iinpusf'd  on,  ami  \\\v  facility  with  ^^lli^•ll  (ln'  prin- 
cipal  aifciits  Hifmsrlvcs  were  iiidiircd  to  rmnloy 
men  willionl  capai'ily  and  scud  lliciri  to  sucli  a  di«- 
laiicf*  and  at  an  enormous  expense. 

Since  the  lailnre  ol'  Law  and  liis  departure  from 
France,  his  frpanl  at  the  Arkansas  jrul  heeii  Luiirely 
neglected,  and  the  fjjreajest  part  otthe  seKlers,  whom 
he  had  transported  thither  Irom  (iermany,  linding 
thcmsehes  ahandoned  and  disappointed,  came  (h)wn 
to  New  Orleans,  with  the  hope  ofohtainin;^  a  passaj^e 
to  some  port  of  France,  front  which  they  mijihl  he 
enahled  to  rehn*n  fiome.  The  colonial  «;()vernment 
beinp;  u'lahle  or  iniwilliiiu;  to  <;rant  it,  small  allotments 
of  land  were  made  to  them  twenty  miles  ahove  New- 
Orleans,  on  hoih  sides  of  the  river,  on  which  they 
settled  in  cotlai^e  tarms.  The  clievalier  d"Arei»s- 
bonrg.  a  Swedish  otlicer.  lately  arri\ed.  was  appoint- 
ed commandant  of  the  new  post.  This  was  the  l)eij;in- 
ningofthe  settlement,  known  as  the  German  coast,  or 
the  parishes  of  St.  Charles  ami  St.  John  the  Baptist. 
These  laborious  men  supplied  the  troops  and  the 
inhabitants  of  Now  Orleans  with  garden  stufl!  Load- 
ing their  pirogues,  with  the  produce  ol  their  week's 
work,  on  Saturday  evening,  they  lloatcd  down  the 
river  and  were  ready  to  spread  at  sun-rise,  on  the 
first  market  that  was  held  on  the  banks  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, their  supplies  of  vegetables,  fowls  and  but- 
ter. Returning,,  at  the  close  of  the  market,  they 
reached  their  homes  early  in  the  night,  and  wvve 
ready  to  resume  their  wcn'k  at  sun  rise;  having 
brought  the  groceries  and  other  articles  needetl  in 
the  course  of  the  we(  k. 

The  island,  which  Father  Charhnoix  had  lately 
blessed  and  to  which  he  had  given  the  name  of  Tou- 
louse, having  been  examined,  uider  the  orders  oi 
Bienville,  by  Pauger,  appeared  to  be  acojivenient 


ihc  prln- 

(Miiploy 

c'li  a  <li«- 

[urr  from 
1  ciMirf'ly 
PH,  whom 
y,  (iriding 
inr  down 

vcrnmcMit 
llotinciils 
ovo  Ncw- 
liich  ihoy 

(rAirns- 
;  appoiiit- 
Lhe  Ijci^in- 

coust.  or 
c  Baptist. 

and  the 
r.  Lotid- 
^ir  week's 
[low II  the 
\  on  the 

the  Mis- 

and  but- 
ioL    they 
rind  were 
having 
needed  in 

ul  lately 
('  of  Tou- 
orders  of 
Diivenient 


[7i-J] 


T 


rilK  TRNTH 


i'H* 


plare  liir  the  residenre  of  pih)t9.  To  afford  the  eii- 
tranee  of  the  river  soiru'  protection,  a  battery  \v\s 
now  raised  on  it,  with  barra^^ks,  a  magazine  and 
ehapel,  and  a  small  garrison  was  sent  there. 

Laharpe  returned  from  his  expedition  to  the  river 
of  the  Arkansas,  on  the  2()th  of  May:  he  had  reached 
tlie  Natchez  on  the  seventeenth  of  Jaimary  and  found 
Fort  Rosalie  a  heap  of  rotten  timber:  Manneval,  who 
commanded  it,  had  only  eighteen  soldiers.  He  staid 
but  one  day  with  him  and  met,  at  the  mouth  of  the 
river  of  the  Yazous,  two  Canadians  pirogues,  loaded 
with  fjCMXH)  lb.  weight  of  salt  meat.  They  had  killed 
eighteen  bears  about  the  head  point  of  Point  Coupee, 
l^aharpe  reached,  nine  miles  up  Yazou  river,  a 
settlement  called  Fort  St.  Peter,  commanded  by  de 
Grave.  There  were  not  more  than  thirty  acres  of 
arable  land  near  llie  tort;  the  rest  was  notliiiig  but 
stony  hills.  On  digging  turf  and  clay,  it  was  found 
the  water  was  bad  and  the  place  sickly. 

A  little  above  the  fort  were  villages  of  the  Coroas, 
Offbgoulas  and  Oatsees.  Their  huts  were  scattered 
on  small  hillocks  artificially  made  in  the  valley. 
Their  whole  population  did  not  exceed  two  hundred 
and  fifty  heads.  About  one  hundred  miles  to  the 
northeast,  were  the  Chouactas,  about  forty  in  number, 
and  still  higlier  the  Chachoumas,  who  numbered 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty.  In  high  water,  these  vil- 
lages were  inaccessible  by  land.  Nine  miles  higher 
were  the  Outaypcs,  a  very  small  tribe,  and  fifteen 
miles  farther  the  Tapouclias,  near  the  Choctaws. 
Laharpe  left  the  \  azou  river,  on  the  fifteenth  of  Feb- 
ruary, and  ascending  the  Mississippi  one  hundred  and 
sixty-four  miles,  came  to  the  lower  branch  of  the  river 
of  the  Arkansas.  He  found  its  current  extremely 
rapid,  and  stopped  a  little  above  its  mouth,  near  thai 
of  a  stream  coining  from  the  north  west  from  the  Oea- 


r,ot' 


*  9  ^^ 


i,^:i 


tIIj. 


250 


CHAPtER 


[il^:- 


ges.      The  large  quantity  of  rock  in  its  bed  prevent* 
ed  its  navigation. 

The  first  village  was  reached  on  the  first  of  March. 
It  consisted  of  forty-one  cabins  and  three  hundred  and 
twenty  persons.  Laharpe  found  here  Duboulay, 
who  was  there  since  the  month  of  September:  hav- 
ing been  sent  thither  from  the  fort  of  the  Yazous, 
to  protect  these  Indians,  and  the  boats  from  the  Illi- 
noij5,  which  commonly  stopped  at  this  place,  to  pro- 
cure provisions. 

The  Arkansas  were  not  pleased  at  the  arrival  of  the 
French  among  them,  nor  disposed  to  afford  to  their 
leader  any  inibrmationofthetypography  of  their  coun- 
try. They  saw  with  pain  his  preparations  to  visit  and 
form  alliances  with  the  tribes  in  the  west,  and  exer- 
ted themselves  to  dissuade  him  from  it ;  telling  him 
that  his  party  was  in  great  danger  of  being  murder- 
ed by  the  Osages.  They  refused  to  accommodate 
him  with  a  piroa;ue,  although  there  were  upwards  of 
twenty,  fastened  before  the  village,  and  he  tbund  also 
great  difiiculty  in  procuring  provisions.  He  next 
proceeded  to  Law's  grant;  it  lay  N.  N.  W.  from  the 
village,  on  the  right  side  of  the  river,  at  the  distance  of 
about  seven  miles.  The  buildings  had  been  erected 
about  a  mile  from  the  water.  There  remained  but 
foi  ty  persons  of  all  ages  and  sexes :  they  had  a  small 
clearing  sown  w  ith  wheat. 

On  the  third,  he  sent  to  the  upper  village  for  pro- 
visions. Tl/e  Indians  of  it  came  from  the  Caenzas 
a  nation  w  ho  dw  elt  on  the  Missouri.  This  settlement 
was  insuhited,  and  had  a  population  of  about  four 
hundred  persons.  Having  obtained  what  he  wanted, 
he  sent  five  of  his  men  forward,  directing  them  to  halt 
on  the  second  day  and  wait  for  him.  HesatofTon 
the  next,  with  the  rest,  in  all  twenty-two  men,  includ- 
ing l^rudliomme  and  four  others,  whom  he  had  takefc 
at  the  fort  of  the  Yazous. 


t.'.  .:■ 


1723] 


THE  TENTH. 


2bi 


Proceeding  the  distance  of  two  hundred  and  thirty 
miles,  he  came  to  a  remarkable  rock  on  the  left  hank 
of  the  river,  mixed  with  jaspered  marble,  forming 
three  steep  hillocks,  one  hundred  and  sixty-nine  teet 
high.  Near  it,  is  a  quarry  of  slate,  and  at  its  foot  a 
beautiful  cascade  and  basin.  The  water  of  the  river 
for  thf  '^ ret  ninety  miles  is  redish;  it  afterwards  be- 
come^ so  clear  as  to  be  potable. 

The  party  proceeded  seventy  miles  farther;  but 
the  current  growing  extremely  rapid  and  disease 
prevailing  among  the  soldiers,  Laharpe  determined 
to  return,  much  against  his  inclination  ;  as,  according 
to  his  reckoning,  he  was  within  three  hundred  miles 
of  a  nation,  whom  he  visited  in  1717,  while  he  was  sta- 
tioned at  the  Cadodaqueous,  He  saw  red  and  white 
morillos  in  abundance. 

After  making  a  chart  of  the  river,  for  three  hundred 
and  fifty  miles  from  the  first  village,  he  landed  and 
visited  several  nations  on  the  west  side  of  the  river, 
and  spent  some  time  in  exploring  the  country  on  the 
opposite  shore.  He  then  descended  the  river  to  Law's 
grant,  where  a  boat  had  just  arrived  from  New  Or- 
leans, with  provisions.  They  were  so  needed  that 
the  Germans  were  making  preparations  to  abandon 
the  settlement. 

In  floating  down  the  Mississippi,  Laharpe  was  near 
being  surprised  by  a  party  of  the  Chickasaws. 

Peace  had  in  the  mean  time  been  made  between 
France  and  Spain,  and  on  the  thirty-first  of  May,  a 
Spanish  vessel  from  Vera  Cruz,  landed  Don  Alex- 
ander Wauchop,  a  captain  of  the  royal  navy  of 
Spain,  at  the  Biloxi.  He  was  bearer  of  despatches 
to  Bienville  from  the  Marquis  de  Valero,  viceroy 
of  Mexico,  enclosing  an  official  copy  of  the  late 
treaty,  which  contained  a  clause  for  the  restora- 
tion of  Pensacola,  of  which  Don  Alexander  was  sent 
to  take  possession. 


ft 


A. 


ua 


CHAPl  ^R 


\lV2b 


J 


mi  '' 


Fathrr  Charlevoix  returned  on  the  fourth  olJune  ; 
the  vessel,  in  which  he  had  sailed  i'or  St.  Domingo 
having  heen  wrecked  on  one  oi'the  Martyr  islands, 
on  the  tburteenth  of"  April.  He  sailed  soon  alter 
lor  the  place  of  his  destination. 

A  large  party  of  the  Chickasaws,  attacked,  in  the 
month  of  July,  the  Indians  on  Yazou  river,  near  Fort 
St.  Peter,  robbed  them  of  their  provisions  and  scalp- 
ed a  sergeant  of  the  garrison  and  liis  wife  in  their  own 
cabin,  within  a  musket  shot  of  th<^  fort.  In  apprising 
Bienville  of  this  irruption,  de  Grave,  the  comman- 
dant of  Fort  St.  Peter,  added  there  were  several  par- 
ties of  the  hostile  Indians  hovering  in  tfie  woods,  with 
a  vi"w  of  surprising  the  Coroas,  Otrngoulas  and 
Yazous.  These  had  sent  their  womtn  andchildren 
into  the  fort. 

The  beginning  of  August,  Bienville  removed  his 
head  quarters  to  New  Orleans.  In  the  latter  part  of 
the  month,  he  was  visited  by  a  deputation  of  the  Ito- 
mapas,  a  tribe  on  the  western  side  of  the  Mississippi, 
who  had  stopped  in  the  village  of  Colapissas,  whose 
chief  falling  sick  during  their  visit,  his  countrymen 
attributed  his  malady  to  a  spell  cast  on  him  by  their 
guests.  They  followed  them  to  New  Orleans,  and 
solicited  Bieneville's  interference,  in  order  to  obtain 
the  removal  of  the  spell. 

The  company,  at  home,  were  still  less  intent  to 
promote  agriculture  in  the  parts  of  Louisiana  oc- 
cupied by  the  French,  than  on  the  discovery  of  mines 
of  the  precious  metals,  and  the  extension  of  trade  wilh 
the  most  remote  nations  of  Indians.  \  lelding  to  the 
representations  ol  Boismont,  an  officer  heretofore  at- 
tached to  the  garrison  of  Fort  Chartres  of  the  Illi- 
nois, who  had  made  several  expeditions  up  the  Mis- 
souri, and  havitig  gone  over  had  been  made  a  knight 
of  St.  Louis,  they  sent  him  to  New  Orleans  and  direc- 


\  olJune : 
Domingo 
r  islands, 
oon  alter 

?d.  in  the 
near  Fort 
nd  scalp- 
tlicir  own 
appriiring 
comman- 
i^eral  par- 
3ods,  with 
)ulas  and 
d  children 

loved  his 
ter  part  of 
ol"  the  Ito- 
ississippi, 
as,  whose 
untrymen 
1  by  their 
cans,  and 
to  obtain 

intent  to 
jiana   oc- 

of  mines 
rade  wiih 
ins;  to  the 
tof'ore  at- 
\(  the  Illi- 

the  Mis- 

a  knight 
nddirec- 


t728j 


THK  TENTH. 


ted  Bienville  to  furnish  him  a  detachment,  pirogues, 
arms,  ammunition  and  provision,  tliat  he  might  build 
a  fort  and  begin  a  settlement  on  the  banks  of  that 
river.  Helanded  early  in  September,  bringing  to  the 
colonists,  as  a  spiritual  relief,  three*  father  capuchins 
and  one  lay  brother. 

In  their  despatches,  the  commissioners  announced 
to  Bienville  that  tlie  company  expected  he  should 
consider  himself,  not  only  as  the  commandant  gene- 
ral ol  its  forces  in  Louisiana,  but  also,  principal  direc- 
tor of  its  concerns,  and  as  responsible  for  their  suc- 
cess— that  if  they  prospered,  ho  should  have  all  the 
credit  of  it,  but,  in  case  of  their  miscarriage  the  loss 
of  the  regent's  favour. 

They  inclosed  to  him  a  printed  copy  of  a  royal 
proclamation,  published  on  the  twenty-first  of  May, 
announcing  the  failure  of  the  bank  established  by 
Law.  On  the  following  day,  its  notes  became  abso- 
lutely worthless.  By  its  failure  an  immense  number  of 
individuals  were  ruined,  and  many  rich  families  re- 
duced to  abject  poverty.  To  sooth  the  general  in- 
terest, d'Aguesseau  was  recalled  from  exile,  and  the 
seals  were  returned  to  him.  About  the  &*ame  time 
the  British  nation  was  gulled,  nearly  in  the  same 
maimer,  but  not  to  the  same  extent,  by  what  was  cal- 
led the  south  sea  bubble. 

A  number  of  pirogues  having  been  built,  Boismonf 
led  his  detachment  to  the  Missouri. 

A  most  destructive  hurricane  desolated  the  pro- 
vince on  the  eleventh  of  September.  The  church,  hos- 
pital, and  thirty  houses  were  levelled  to  the  ground  in 
New  Orleans ;  three  vessels  that  lay  before  it  were 
driven  on  shore.  The  crops  above  and  below  were 
totally  destroyed,  and  many  houses  of  the  planters 
blown  down.  It  prevailed  with  great  violence  at  the 
Natchez  and  Biloxi.     Three  vessels  that  were  at  an- 


:  U- 


254 


CHAPTER 


[17SW 


h    i 


chor  before  the  last  place,  were  driven  high  up  on  the 
shore.  Famine  threatened  the  colon}'  with  its  hor- 
rors, and  the  chief  despatched  vessels  in  search  of 
provisions  to  Vera  Cruz,  Havana  and  St.  Domingo. 

Hitherto  apprehension,  in  regard  to  Indian  hostili- 
ty, had  been  confined  to  one  quarter,  and  the  Chicka- 
savvs  alone  excited  the  alarm  of  the  French.  Dutisne 
an  officer  of  the  garrison  of  Fort  Rosalie,  came  to  Now 
Orleans  in  the  latter  part  of  the  month,  with  distres- 
sing accounts  from  that  quarter. 

A  sergeant  having  quarrelled  with  an  Indian,  an 
affray  ensued.  The  guard  at  the  fort  turned  out  to 
quell  it.  They  were  attacked  by  a  numerous  body 
of  Indians,  on  whom  they  at  last  fired,  killing  one  of 
them  and  wounding  another.  A  few  days  after,  Gue- 
not,  the  director  of  the  grant  of  St.  Catherine,  was  fi- 
red on  in  the  road  and  wounded;  and  on  the  next,  the 
Indians  attacked,  and  attempted  to  carry  away,  a  cart 
loaded  with  provisions,  and  guarded  by  a  few  soldi- 
ers. Hiding  themselves  under  high  grass,  they  fired 
and  killed  a  negro,  and  wounded  another.  A  party 
of  eighty  of  them,  a  few  days  after,  attacked  the  set- 
tlement; but  were  repulsed  with  the  loss  of  seven  men. 
They  had  taken  two  planters,  whose  heads  they  had 
cut  off;  they  also  carried  away  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  horses,  cattle  and  hogs. 

Two  suns  of  the  Natchez  were  on  a  visit  to  Bien- 
ville, when  Dutisne  reached  New  Orleans.  Instead 
of  sending  at  once  a  strong  tbrce  to  chastise  the  of- 
fending Indians,  presents  were  made  to  these  chiefs, 
who  promised  to  go  and  put  a  stop  to  the  disorder. 

Disease  added,  in  the  fall,  its  horrors  to  those  of  im- 
pending dearth;  but  the  colonists  were  in  some  degree 
relieved  by  the  appearance  of  an  unexpected  crop  of 
rice.  The  grain  scattered  by  the  hurricane  had  tar 
lien  root,  and  promised  a  comparative  abundance. 


I 


!L, 


I7L'3] 


THE  TENTW. 


25S 


I  up  on  the 
th  its  hor- 
search  of 
miiigo. 
ian  hostili- 
leChicka- 
li.  Dutisne 
me  to  New 
ith  distres- 

Indian,  an 
[led  out  to 
:;rous  body 
ling  one  of 
after,  Gue- 
ine,  was  fi- 
le next,  the 
way,  a  cart 
t  few  soldi- 
they  fired 
A  party 
ed  the  set- 
seven  men. 
Is  they  had 
rable  num- 


3. 


pit  to  Bien- 
Instead 
ise  the  of- 
lese  chiefs, 
disorder, 
those  of  im- 
Dme  degree 
;ted  crop  of 
me  had  ta- 
indance* 


The  directors  who  had  remained  at  the  Biloxi, 
now  joined  Delorme  at  New  Orleans. 

The  scarcity  of  provisions  created  such  distress, 
that  several  of  the  inhabitants  seriously  thought  of 
abandoning  the  colony  ;  and  a  company  of  infantry, 
who  had  staid  behind  at  the  Biloxi,  being  ordered  to 
New  Orleans,  were  embarked  on  board  of  a  schoon- 
er; but,  as  soon  as  she  sailed,  the  captain  and  officers 
forced  her  master  to  sail  for  Charleston — where  they 
landed  with  their  arms  and  baggage. 

Renaud,  one  of  the  directors  of  the  company's  con- 
cerns, had  gone  to  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Missou- 
ri, whither  he  was  industriously  engaged  in  a  search 
after  mines.  In  the  belief  that  several  existed  on  the 
shores  of  the  Mississippi,  Missouri,  Marameg  and  the 
river  of  the  Illinois,  he  procured  from  Boisbriant,  six 
grants  of  land  on  these  streams,  each  three  miles  in 
front  on  the  water,  with  a  depth  of  eighteen. 

The  land  in  Louisiana  had  appeared  very  favoura- 
ble to  the  culture  of  indigo;  and  measures  were  taken 
by  the  company,  at  the  solicitation  of  the  planters,  to 
supply  them  with  seed. 

Laharpe,  on  his  return  from  Pensacola,  where  he 
had  been  to  bring  back  the  troops  and.  effects  of  the 
company,  on  the  Spaniards  taking  possession  of  the 
place,  reported  that  VVauchop,  who  remained  there  in 
command,  had  begun  a  settlement  on  the  island  of  St. 
Rose,  where  his  force  was  to  stay  till  he  was  reinfor- 
ced by  a  sufficient  number  to  allow  a  removal  to  the 
main:  the  island  being  more  easily  defensible,  the 
post  at  the  bay  of  St.  Joseph  had  beeii  abandoned. 

The  Spaniards  being  badly  supplied  with  provisi- 
ons, Wauchop  made  application  to  the  Frerich  for 
flour;  intimating  that,  if  he  could  be  accommodated, 
he  would  send  for  it  to  New  Orleans,  and  probably 
improve  the  opportunity  of  paying  his  respects  to  Bi- 


•'•  i, 


i 


or 


OO 


CHAPTER 


[1724 


I  i 


enville  there,  as  lie  was  authorised  by  the  viceroy  to 
receive  the  arms  taken  at  Peni^acohi;  for  the  restora- 
tion ol'wiiich,  a  clause  had  been  inserted  in  the  late 
treaty.  The  council  advised  Bienville  to  decline  the 
honor  of  the  intended  visit:  it  being  thought  impru- 
dent to  allow  the  governor  of  Pensacola,  to  recormoi- 
Ire  the  passes  of  the  Mississippi,  while  they  were  un- 
guarded by  any  fort,  or  to  become  acquainted  with 
the  state  of  the  forces  of  the  colony.  The  flou.  was 
accordingly  sent  to  Mobile,  where  Wauchop  was  re- 
quested to  send  and  receive  it. 

While  the  Spaniards  were  thus  resuming  possession 
of  Pensacola  in  the  east,  they  were  reinforcing  their 
garrisons  of  the  west,  in  the  scattered  posts  of  the  pro- 
vince of  Texas.  St.  Denys,  in  a  letter  from  Natchi- 
toches of  the  sixteenth  of  January,  informed  Bien- 
ville the  Marquis  do  Gallo  had  lately  received  five 
hundred  soldiers. 

On  the  other  hand,  accounts  were  received  that 
the  Chickasavvs  had  lately  been  defeated  in  a  pitch- 
ed battle  by  the  Choctaws,  in  which  the  former  had 
sustained  a  loss  of  four  hundred  men. 

The  distresses,  that  had  followed  in  France  the 
failure  of  Law's  scheme,  were  now  most  heavily  felt. 
Louisiana  deeply  participated  in  them,  and  the 
French  cabinet  thought  of  no  better  plan  of  affording 
relief  to  the  colonists,  than  an  alteration  of  the  value 
of  money. 

The  first  attempt  was  by  a  rise  at  the  rate  of  eighty 
seven  and  a  half  per  cent.  The  dollar  of  Mexico  was 
the  only  silver  coin  in  circulation  in  the  province ;  its 
value  was  accordingly  raised  from  four  livres,  al 
which  it  Avas  then  received  in  payment,  to  seven  and 
a  half;  so  that  the  creditor  of  a  sum  of  four  thousand 
livres,  or  one  thousand  dollars  before  the  edict,  which 
bears  date  the  twelfth  of  .January,  1723,  was  compel- 


1784] 


THE  TENTH 


257 


'  i  ,1 


led  to  accept  in  discharge  five  hundred  and  thirty  dol- 
lars and  a  third. 

Matters  remained  thus  during  one  year.  Experience 
shewed  the  measure  adopted  was  not  tfie  right  one. 
As  a  rise  had  proved  disastrous,  it  was  thought  a  i'aJi 
or  reduction  would  have  the  contrary  effect.  But,  as 
in  the  natural  body,  disease  comes  on  rapidly,  and 
the  cure  proceeds  rL»wly,  it  was  thought  best  that  the 
healing  of  the  political  should  be  gradually  efTect- 
ed.  y\ccordingly,  by  an  edict  of  the  twenty-sixth 
of  February,  in  the  following  year  a  reduction  of  six 
and  two  thirds  per  cent,  was  ordered,  and  the  value  of 
the  dollar  was  brought  down  from  seven  and  a  half  to 
seven  livres.  Thus,  the  creditor  of  a  sum  of  four 
thousand  livres  before  the  rise,  who  had  not  been  ten- 
dered after  it,  five  hundred  and  thirty  three  dollars 
and  a  third,  was  now  permitted  to  demand  five  hun- 
dred and  sixty  two  dollars  and  eighty  seven  cents  and 
a  half. 

But,  this  small  and  tardy  relief  was  paid  for  by  those 
who  had  contracted  between  the  publications  of  the 
two  edicts.  He  who,  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  Februa- 
ry, had  made  a  note  for  seven  thousand  five  hundred 
livres,  which  could  be  discharged  by  the  payment  of 
one  thousand  dollars,  was,  after  the  publication  of 
the  last  edict,  compelled  to  pay  an  advance  of  seven- 
ty dollars  and  upwards. 

What  waa  intended  for,  and  was  called,  a  healing 
process,  was  the  administration  of  poison  in  lieu  of  a 
remedy;  the  doses  were  not  strong,  but  came  in  rapid 
succession.  Within  sixty  days,  on  the  second  of  May, 
a  new  edict  proclaimed  a  further  reduction  of  twen- 
ty per  cent ;  the  value  of  the  dollar  being  lowered  to 
five  livres  and  twelve  sous. 

Within  six  months,  a  farther  reduction  of  twenty 
per  cent,  was  operated;  and  the  value  of  the  dollar 

LOU.  I.  33 


I 


k. 


if  ■ 
f. 

u 


I  I' 


I  Ki' 


'ina 


CHAPTEK 


(17S4 


was  reduced  by  an  edict  of  the  thirtieth  ol' October, 
to  four  livres  and  a  lialf.  Thus,  within  less  than  ten 
months,  was  llie  money  raised  in  its  value  eighty  seven 
and  a  half  [>er  cent,  and  gradually  reduced  to  its  ori- 
ginal rate. 

Public  and  private  distresses  are  curable  by  the 
same  remedies  only ;  for  the  former  is  only  the  accum- 
ulation of  the  latter.  A  violent  medicine  often  injures 
the  natural,  so  do  violent  measures  the  political,  body. 

Indolence,  improvidence  and  extravagance,  at 
times,  occasion  private  distress,  and  this  the  public. 
Industry,  economy  arid  order  alone  can  relieve  the 
first ;  and  if  the  latter  be  curable  by  the  same  means 
only,  it  is  vain  to  resort  to  alterations  in  the  value  of 
money,  a  paper  currency,  or  tender  laws — indeed 
to  any  such  artificial  remedies.  Loans  are  palliatives 
only,  and  frequently  injurious  ones.  They  may,  for  a 
moment,  mitigate  the  etfect  of  the  disease ;  but  they 
foment  the  cause,  which  should  be  removed,  if  a  radi- 
cal cure  be  intended.  If  the  extravagant,  the  impro- 
vident and  the  idle  be  indulged,  there  can  be  but  lit- 
tle hope  of  their  becoming  economical,  provident 
and  laborious. 

The  company,  with  the  view  of  providing  tor  the 
spiritual  wants  of  the  upper  part  of  the  province,  in 
which  clergymen  were  most  wanted,  entered  into  ar- 
rangements with  the  order  of  the  Jesuits,  by  which 
curates  and  missionaries  were  obtained.  Persons, 
professing  any  other  religion  than  the  catholic,  were 
not  treated  with  equal  charity,  and  the  spirit  of  into- 
lerance dictated  an  edict,  in  the  month  of  March,  by 
which  the  exercise  of  any  other  religion  was  prohibi- 
ted in  Louisiana,  and  je^vs  were  directed  to  be  ex- 
pelled from  it,  as  enemies  of  the  christian  name.  A 
black  code  for  the  government  of  the  slaves  was  given 
(o  the  colojiy  this  year. 


1"  October, 
6B  than  ten 
ghty  seven 
I  to  its  ori- 

ble  by  the 
the  accum- 
ften  injures 
tical,  body, 
igance,    at 
the  public, 
relieve  the 
ame  means 
he  value  of 
,vs — indeed 
!  palliatives 
Y  may,  for  a 
e ;  but  they 
»d,  ifa  radi- 
,  the  impro- 
1  be  but  lit- 
provident 

Jing  lor  the 
province,  in 
red  into  ar- 
s,  by  which 
Persons, 
tholic,  were 
)irit  of  into- 
*  March,  by 
vas  prohibi- 
id  to  be  ex- 
1  name.  A 
js  was  given 


f26] 


THE  TENTH. 


259 


Gross  infidelities  having  been  committed  in  the 
transmission  of  letters  and  packets  in  Louisiana, 
the  king,  by  an  edict  of  this  summer,  denounced 
against  persons,  intercepting  letters  and  packets  in 
the  colony,  or  opening  them  and  disclosing  their  con- 
tents, a  fine  of  five  hundred  livres,  and  the  offender, 
if  holding  the  king's  commission  was  to  be  cashiered, 
otherwise  put  in  the  pillory. 

The  colonists  considered  the  preservation  of  hor- 
ses and  cattle  as  an  object  ofprimaij^^  importance; 
and  the  superior  council  had  framed  regulations  for 
this  purpose,  as  well  as  for  the  propagation  of  these 
animals.  They  had  proved  inertectual :  the  inter- 
position of  the  royal  authority  had  been  solicited,  and 
by  an  edict  of  the  twenty-second  of  May,  the  punish- 
ment of  death  was  denounced  against  any  person  kil- 
ling or  wounding  another's  horses  or  cattle.  The  kil- 
ling of  one's  own  cow  or  ewe,  or  the  female  young  of 
these  animals,  was  punished  by  a  fine  of  three  hundred 
livres. 

This  was  a  most  flagrant  instance  of  the  abuse  of 
the  punishment  of  death.  It  is  inflicted  for  the  wound- 
ing of  an  animal ;  neither  does  the  legislator  stop  to 
distinguish  between  the  most  deadly  stroke  and  the 
slightest  solution  of  contiguity. 

in  no  period,  in  the  annals  of  T  ouisiana,  does  the 
province  appear  to  have  engrossed  so  much  legisla- 
tive attention.  Louis  the  fifteenth,  had  some  time  in 
the  preceding  year,  reached  his  thirteenth,  de- 
clared himself  of  age,  and  assumed  the  govrrnmeiit 
of  his  dominions.  Happy  the  country  when  legisla- 
tion is  never  confided  to  a  boy ;  happier  that,  in  which 
it  is  only  trusted  to  representatives,chosen  by  the  peo- 
ple, and  for  a  very  limited  period. 

Lachaise  and  Perrault.  lately  appointed  commissi- 
oners to  examine  and  make  a  report  concerning  the 


26U 


CHAPTER 


[1725 


ii 


■ « 


agents  and  clerks  of  the  company  in  Louisiana,  reach- 
ed New  Orleans  in  the  fall,  with  two  capuchins.  La- 
chaise  was  a  nephew  of  father  Francois  de  la  Chaise, 
an  eminent  Jesuit,  who,  being  confessor  to  Louis  the 
fourteenth,  had  the  firmness  to  withhold  absolution 
from  his  royal  penitent,  till  he  abandoned  or  married 
the  celebrated  madam  de  Maintenon. 

Philip  the  fifth  of  Spain  gave  to  the  world  tlie  rare 
spectacle  of  a  monarch  relinquishing  and  reassumiiig 
a  crown,  within  one  year.  A  prey  tosjiperstition.  me- 
lancholy and  suspicion,  he  imitated  Charles  the  first; 
abdicated  the  throne  in  favour  of  Louis,  his  eldest 
son,  and  retired  into  a  cloister.  The  new  king  dying 
a  few  months  after,  from  the  small  pox,  the  royal  monk 
threw  off  the  cowl,  with  the  same  facility  as  lie  had 
the  diadem,  antl  leaving  in  the  convent  his  supersti- 
tion, suspicions  and  melancholy,  with  renovated 
vigour,  successfully  directed  the  destinies  of  Spain 
during  a  second  reign. 

The  superior  council  now  held  its  sessions  in 
New  Orleans,  presided  by  Lachaise,  who  had  suc- 
ceeded Duvergier  as  ordorniateur.  Brusic,  Perry,  P^a- 
zende  and  Fleuriau,  had  lately  been  called  to  seats 
in  that  tribunal.  Fleuriau  had  succeeded  Cartier  de 
la  Baune  in  the  office  of  attorney  general,  and  Ros- 
sart  was  clerk  of  that  tribunal. 

With  the  view  of  providing  for  a  speedy  determi- 
nation of  small  suits,  an  edict  of  the  month  of  Decem- 
ber, 1725,  directed  that,  independently  of  the  month- 
ly sessions  of  the  council,  particular  ones  should  be 
bolden,  once  or  twice  a  week,  by  two  of  its  members, 
chosen  and  removeable  by  it,  to  try  causes,  in  which 
the  value  of  the  matter  in  dispute  did  not  exceed  one 
hundred  livres,  or  about  twenty-two  dollars. 

The  provision  lately  made  for  clergymen  having 
proven  insufficient  for  the  wants  of  the  colony,  and  the 


17265 


THE  TENTH. 


fUH 


bishop  of  Quebec,  uilhin  wliopc  diocese  it  was  find- 
ing it  inconvenient  to  send  the  necessary  number  oi" 
curates  and  mihsionaries  to  the  upper  district,  the 
company  entered  into  a  new  treaty  with  the  Jesuits, 
on  the  twentieth  of  February  1726. 

By  this,  that  of  1721  was  annulled.  Father  Beau- 
bois,  the  superior  of  the  missionarie  ,  who  had  come 
over  in  that  year,  was  allowed  eighteen  hundred  li- 
vres  for  his  services,  and  a  gratification  of  three  thou- 
aand  livres  was  divided  between  his  associates  for 
their  past  services. 

The  Jesuits  engaged  to  keep  constantly,  at  least 
fourteen  priests  of  their  order  in  the  colony,  viz:  a 
curate  and  missionary  at  Kaskaskias;  a  missionary  in 
the  village  of  the  Brochigomas ;  a  chaplain  and  mis- 
sionary, at  the  tort  on  the  Wabash ;  a  missionary  at 
the  Arkansas ;  a  chaplain  and  Missionary  at  fort  St. 
Peter,  among  the  Yazous ;  another  missionary  there, 
whose  duty  it  was  to  endeavour  to  penetrate  into  the 
country  of  the  Chickasaws,  to  propagate  the  Catho- 
lie  religion,  and  promote  union  between  these  In- 
dians and  the  French;  two  missionaries  at  the  Ali- 
bamons,  one  of  whom  was  to  preach  the  gospel  to  the 
Choctaws.  These  locations  were  not  to  be  altered 
without  the  governor's  consent. 

Father  Petit,  the  superiorof  the  Jesuits  in  the  pro- 
vince, was  permitted  to  reside  in  New  Orleans,  but 
not  to  perform  any  ecclesiastical  functions  there, 
without  the  license  of  the  superiorof  the  Capuchins. 
The  company  engaged  to  furnish  him  with  a  chape!, 
vestry  room,  and  a  house  and  lot  for  his  accommoda- 
tion, that  of  a  missionary,  and  the  temporary  use 
of  such  priests  of  his  order,  as  might  arrive  in  New 
Orleans.  ' 

The  order  w  as  to  have  a  grant  of  land  often  arpents' 


4 


36!£ 


CHAPTER 


11720 


ill  front  on  the  Mississippi,  with  the  ordinary  depth, 
and  negroes,  on  the  sjimo  terms  as  the  planters. 

The  Jesuits  were  to  be  eonveyed  to  Louisiana,  at 
the  expense  ofthe  company,  and  a  yearly  salary  of 
six  hundred  livres,  one  hundred  and  thirty  I hree dol- 
lars and  thirty-three  eents,  was  to  he  paid  to  cjieh, 
with  an  addition  of  two  hundred  livres.  torty-lour  dol- 
lars and  forty-four  cents,  during  (?nch  ol  the  tirsi  (ive 
years  ;  every  missionary  was  to  have  an  out  fit  of  lour 
hundred  and  fifty  livres,  or  one  hundred  dollars,  and 
a  chapel. 

Money  or  goods  were  furnished  at  each  mission  for 
building  a  church  and  presbytery. 

Jesuit  lay  brothers  were  to  receive  their  passage, 
anti  a  gratification  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  Uvres, 
thirty-three  dollars  and  thirty-three  cents,  but  no  sal. 
ary. 

The  churches  and  presbyteries,  built  at  Kaskas. 
kiasand  the  village  of  the  Michigourras,  were  given 
to  tbe  order. 

The  treaty  received  the  king's  approbation,  on  the 
seventeenth  of  August. 

Similar  arrangements  were  made  with  the  Capu- 
chins, those  with  the  Carmelites  having  been  annuK 

led. 

All  the  lower  part  of  the  province  was  put  under 
the  ecclesiastical  care  of  the  Capuchins.  Father  Bru. 
no,  their  superior  in  Louisiana,  received  the  appoint 
ment  of  vicar-general  of  the  bishop  of  Quebec.  A 
convent  was  built  for  them  in  New  Orleans,  on  the 
square,  immediately  below  the  church.  The  superi. 
or,  aided  by  two  monks  as  his  vicars,  acted  as  curate 
of  the  parish;  a  third  was  chaplain  to  the  milita. 
ry  ^orce  in  New  Orleans,  and  another  at  the  Balize. 
Curates  were  stationed  at  Mobile  and  Biloxi,  the  Ger- 
man coast  and  Natchitoches. 


1727] 


TIIK  TENTH 


M»l 


For  llio  purpose  of  providing  ibr  the  rduciUioii  of 
young  girls  and  tlic  cure  oHIie  hospital,  the  conipa' 
ny  entered  into  an  Jigreeinent  vviih  sisters  Marie  Fran* 
coise  Tranehepain  St.  Augustin  and  Mary  Ann  Le 
Boulanger,  St.  Angelique,  Ursuline  nuns  oftlie  con- 
vent of  Kouon,  on  the  thirteenth  of  Sept(Mnber,  by 
which  these  hidies,  assisted  l>y  mother  Catherine 
Bruscoh  of  St.  \mand,  undertook  to  pass  over  to 
Louisiana  with  several  other  nuns  of  their  order.  The 
company  engaged  to  provide  for  the  wants  of  the  hos- 
pital, and  the  subsistence  and  maintenance  of  the 
nuns.  The  king  gave  his  assent  to  this  arrangement, 
on  the  eighteenth  of  August. 

During  the  fall,  Perrier,  a  lieutenant  of  the  king's 
ships,  having  Ix'en  appointed  commandant  general  of 
Louisiana,  reached  New  Orleans,  and  shortly  after  Bi- 
cnville  sailed  for  France.  We  have  seen,  that  in  1698 
he  came  over  at  the  age  of  eighleeri,  with  Iberville,  his 
brother;  he  was  then  a  midshipman;  and  four  years 
alter,  he  succeeded  SauvoUe,  another  brother,  in  the 
chief  command  of  the  province,  whicli,  with  little  in- 
terruption he  exercised  till  this  period. 

George  the  first,  of  Great  Britain,  died  on  the  ele. 
venth  ot  June,  1727,  in  his  sixty-seventh  year,  and  was 
succeeded  by  George  the  second,  his  eldest  son. 

The  Jesuits  and  Ursuline  nuns  arrived  this  summer 
in  a  company  ship.  The  fathers  were  placed  on  a 
tract  of  land  immediately  above  the  city,  which  is  now 
the  lowest  part  of  the  suburb  St.  Mary.  A  house  and 
chapel  were  erected  on  it  for  their  use.  They  impro- 
ved the  front  of  their  land  by  a  plantation  of  the  myr- 
tle wax  shrub.  The  nuns  were  for  the  present  lodged 
in  town,  in  a  house  on  the  northern  corner  of  Chartres 
and  Bienville  streets,  but  the  company  soon  after  laid 
the  foundation  of  a  very  large  edifice  tor  a  nunnery, 
in  the  lowest  square  on  the  levee.     The  ladies  remo^ 


■^r 


2ft4 


(JIHAPTER 


[172^ 


' 

' 

t    1 

f:m 

m 

iii 

if'fif 


in 


y 


:i!; 


ved  to  it  in  the  latter  part  of  1730,  and  occupied  it 
until  1824.  It  was,  till  the  construction  of  the  new 
convent  the  largest  house  in  Louisiana.  A  military 
hospital  was  built  near  it. 

A  government  house^was  erected  immediately  be- 
low the  plantation  of  the  Jesuits,  and  two  very  long 
warehouses  were  built  in  the  two  squares  below  the 
church,  on  the  levee ;  one  of  them  was  nearly  consu- 
med by  fire  in  1818,  the  other  is  now  occupied  by  the 
United  States.  This  building  and  the  old  convent 
are  probably  the  two  oldest  edifices  in  the  state. 

Barracks  were  built  on  each  side  of  the  place  d''ar- 
ines^  the  square  fronting  the  cathedral.  A  house 
for  the  sessions  of  the  superior  council,  and  a  jail, 
were  built  on  the  square  immediately  above  the 
church. 

The  land  on  which  the  city  stands,  till  protected 
by  a  levee,  was  subject  to  annual  inundations,  and 
1  perfect  quagmire.  The  waters  of  the  Mississip- 
pi and  those  of  the  lakes  met,  at  a  high  ridge  formed 
by  them,  midway  bet  ween  the  bayou  St.  John  and  New 
Orleans,  called  the  highland  of  the  lepers.  To  drain 
the  city,  a  wide  ditch  was  dug  in  Bourbon  street,  the 
third  from  and  parallel  to  the  river;  each  lot  was  sur- 
rounded by  a  small  one,  which  was  in  course  of  time 
filled  up,  except  the  part  fronting  the  street,  so  that 
every  square  instead  of  every  lot,  was  ditched  in.  In 
tfhis  way,  a  convenient  space  was  drained. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  winter,  a  company  ship 
brought  a  number  of  poor  girls,  shipped  by  the  com- 
pany. They  had  not  been  taken,  as  those  whom  it 
had  transported  before,  in  tlie  houses  of  correction  of 
Paris.  It  had  supplied  each  of  them  with  a  small  box, 
«assc^/c,  containing  a  few  articles  of  clothing.  From 
this  circumstance,  and  to  distinguish  them  from  those 
who  had  preceded  tlieai,  they  were  called  the  girl^ 


1728J 


THE  TENTH. 


266 


de  Id  cassette.     Till  they  could  bo  disposed  of  in  mar- 
ringe,  they  remained  tinder  the  care  of  the  nuns. 

To  the  cuhnre  of  rice  and  tobacco,  that  of  indigo 
was  nou  a{hl*'d ;  the  fig  tree  had  been  introduced 
from  Provence,  and  the  orange  froin  Hispaniola.  A 
consider.ihle  number  of  negroes  had  been  introdu- 
ced, and  laiul,  wfiieh  hitherto  had  been  consider- 
ed as  of  but  httle  value,  began  to  be  regarded  as  oi 
gi-eif  relati\e  importance.  Much  attention  had  not 
been  piid  to  securing  titles ;  much  less  to  a  compli- 
ance vviih  the  terms  on  which  they  had  beeii  granted. 
This  began  to  create  confusion,  and  I'onfnsioii  litiji;a- 
tion  :  for  the  purpose  of  stopping  this  evil,  in  its  be- 
giiuiing.  the  king's  council  published  a'l  edict  on  the 
tentli  of  August,  17'ifi. 

All  oi'ders  of  the  directors  of  the  company  in 
France,  issued  to  those  in  Louisiana,  before  the  last 
of"  December,  I72.J.  not  presented  to  the  hitter  and 
followed  by  possession  and  the  re([uired  improve- 
ment, were  annulled. 

Landholders  were  recpiired  to  exhibit  their  titles, 
and  to  make  a  declaration  of  the  quantity  of  land 
claimed  and  improved  by  them,  to  the  senior  member 
of  the  superior  council,  within  a  limited  time,  under 
the  penalty  of  a  fine  of  two  hundred  dollars,  and  in 
case  of  continued  neglect,  to  comply  with  these  requi- 
sites, the  land  was  to  be  resumed  and  granted  to 
others. 

Grants  of  more  than  twenty  arpents  in  front,  on  ei- 
ther side  of  the  Mississippi,  below  bayou  Manchac, 
were  to  be  reduced  to  that  front,  except  in  cases,  in 
which  the  whole  tront  had  been  improved ;  it  was 
thouglit  necessary  to  have  a  denser  population  above 
and  below  the  city,  for  its  better  protection  and  secu- 
rity. 

Lands,  therefore  granted,  were  required  to  be  im- 

ror.  I.  M 


266 


GHAPTEli 


[lV2\i 


i!  i 

I'    '- 

ii   '. 

I  ^ 


"proveil,  by  one  third  of  the  quantity  in  front  being 
put  ill  a  state  to  be  plouglied  and  cullivated  ;  but  the 
two  chief  officers  ol  tlic  colony  were  authorised,  on 
application,  to  make  exceptions  in  favor  of  such  land- 
holders who.  having  large  herds  of  cattle,  kept  their 
land  in  pasture. 

The  depth  of  every  grant  was  fixed  at  between 
twenty  and  one  hundred  arpents,  according  to  its  si- 
tuation. 

The  company,  as  lords  of  all  the  land  in  the  prov- 
ince, were  authorised  to  levy  a  quit  rent  of  a  sous  (a 
cent)  on  every  arpent,  cultivated  or  not.  and  five  li- 
vres  on  every  negro,  to  enable  it  to  build  churches, 
glebes  and  hospitals. 

Grantees  were  restrained  from  aliening  their  land 
until  they  had  made  the  requisite  improvements. 

Hunting  and  fishing  were  permitted;  provided  no 
damajre  was  done  to  plantations  and  enclosures, and 
no  exclusive  right  thereto  was  to  be  granted. 

The  company  were  empowered  to  grant  the  right 
of  patronage,  to  persons  binding  themselves  to  build 
and  endow  churches. 

At  the  departure  of  Bienville,  the  colony  had  made 
very  rapid  strides,  and  reached,  in  coujparison  to  pre- 
ceding years,  a  very  high  degree  of  relative  prosper- 
ity. During  the  short  space  of  eleven  years,  since  it 
passed  under  the  care  of  the  company,  agriculture 
had  engaged  the  attention  of  F^uropean  capitalists: 
eighteen  liundred  negroes  had  been  introduced  from 
Ai'rica,  and  twenty-five  hundrt^d  redemptioners 
brought  over;  the  military  force  was  increased  to 
upwards  of  eight  hm dred  men.  But  the  moment 
was  approaching,  when  Louisiana  was  to  receive  a 
very  severe  check,  which  was  to  cause  her  to  rrtro- 
gade,  as  fast  as  she  l>ad  advanced.  In  the  concerns 
of  communities,  as  in  those  of  individuals,  the  tide  oi 


Diit  being 
;  bill  tbe 
jrised,  on 
uch  laiid- 
Lcpt  tbeii- 

between 
r  to  its  si- 

the  prov- 

A  sous  (a 

md  five  li- 

cburches, 

their  land 

ments. 

ovided  no 

jsures,  and 

d. 

t  the  right 

es  to  build 


1728] 


THE  TENTH. 


2«7 


prosperity  does  not  always  flow  uninterruptedly ;  ad- 
versity often  causes  it  to  ebb,  and  a  change  of  fortune 
is  often  experienced,  at  the  moiuent  a  reverse  appears 
less  to  be  dreaded. 

Charlevoix. — Laharpe. — Fergennes. — Dupratz. — Archives] 


■nW 


had  made 
son  to  pre- 
c  prosper- 
rs,  since  ii 
igriculture 
:apitalists : 

need  from 
emptioners 
creased  to 
\e  moment 
0  receive  a 
Ri-  to  rrtro- 
c  concerns 

the  tide  oi 


2^1^. 


CHAPTER 


l)72« 


•J' 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Thn  Chickasaws  mcditnlo.  the  ovrrtkrniv  of  ike  cnlony — 
thrif  cns^ttij^c  oth'^r  nnttona  in  the  plot. —  The  Choi  laws 
discover  it. — Pcrricr  sends  for  some  of  the  (hiefs. — 7  hcij 
deceive  him. — He  rcpr^srntx  the  h  Ijilcss  condition  of  the 
province. —  His  representations  are  di^r.^irardcd. — 'J  he 

Chickasaws  abandon  or  dclaj/  their  plan ///  coru/rrt  of 

Chppar.,  at  thcAatchcz. —  Fhcy  determine  on  the  sUngh- 
ler  of  the  French,  and  cna-aii-e  the  neiohbounni{  t/ib'S  in 
the  plot. — j]  female  discovers  and  diseases  if. — /'oats 
arrive  from,  JVew  Orleans. — Massacre  at  Fort  Rosalie 
and  Fort  St.  Peter. —  Father Uoittrcjleuu. —  i^erricr  sends 
a  vessel  to  I' ranee  a)td  two  vp  the  Mississijiin. — lie  des- 
patches Courriers  to  tho  Illinns  and  his  Indian  allies. — 
He  fortifies  Mew-Orleans  and  collects  a  snudl force. — 
..Apprehension  from  the  narrops. — Lonbois jMisphix. 

—  The  .iVtttchcz  make,  propo.^ifions  of  peace. —  1  heir 
hi^h pretentions. — Ijisneur  arrirrs  with  tie  Choctaws — 
They  cannot  be  restrainaL  and  make  a  bold  charge  iciih 
some  success. — The  army  arrives ;  the  trenches  are  open- 
ed.— Loidjois  is  compellrd  to  accept  the  propositions  of 
the  .lyatchcz. —  IJc  Innlds  a  Fort  and  returns. —  7'Ae 
Chickasaws  afford  an  asylum  to  the  JYatchcz  and  endea- 
vour to  gain  the   Illinois — Fidelity  of  the  latter The 

Chouachas.  influenced  by  the  Chickasaws,  attempt  to  rise 
against  the  French. —  The  negroes  are  employed  to  des- 
troy the  succour  from  France. — Pcrrier  goes  to  Mobile. 

—  His  call  on  the  Alilitia.—Some  of  the  JYatchcz  a  oss 
the  Mississippi. — Symptoiiis  of  insurrection  among  the 
negroes. — Perrier goes  with  a  small  army  to  Black  nver. 
— He  reaches  an  Indian  fort. — Opening  of  the  trenches. 
— ,y?  Parley. — 7%e  Great  Sun  and  two  other  chief'  come 
out  and  are  detained. — One  of  them  escapes. — Part  of 


in2« 


17i28] 


THF!  KLKVENTit. 


268 


;  colony — 
Choifmvs 
fs. — 7/if^ 
tion  of  the 
led. —  7  he 
cotu/i'ct  of 
he  sl(.r.;g1i- 
fif  iiib>s  in 
if. — iU)(its 
lit  liosalic 
"j'rirr  srjuls 
'. — I  -cucs- 

ti   allies. 

i//  Joyce. — 

-jMisi)hix. 

"c. —  'i  heir 

^hodau'S — 

haro'e  with 

s  are  vpcn- 

tositions  of 

rns. —  The 

and  cndca- 

ttcr. —  The 

nipt  to  rise 

cd  to  des- 

o  jMobile. 

tchcz  cioss 

nmouif  the 

lack  >  iver. 

c  trenches. 

•hie ft  come 

—Tart  of 


the  Indians  leave  iht  Fort. —  The  Wife  of  the  Great  Sun 
com^s  to  the  camp. — Part  of  the  remaininii;  Indians  sur- 
render ;  thr.  rest  leave  the  Fort — they  are  pursued  and 
some  prisoners  talccn. —  The  army  returns  to  JSeiv-Or- 
leans. — Four  hundred  prisoners  shijtped  to  Hispaniola — » 
Surrender  of  the  Company's  Charter. — State  of  the  pro- 
vince. 

THE  Chickasnvvs  instiiiatetl.  as  Frcuch  writers 
urge,  by  the  Eiiglisli  of  Carolina,  now  nioditatcd  the 
total  ruin  ot"  Louisiana,  and  the  destruelion  of  every 
white  individual  in  it.  They  h.ad  earelull}^  eonceal- 
ed  their  desicfu  trom  the  Illinois,  the  Arkansas  and 
the  Tunicas,  whose  attachment  to  the  French  they 
knew  to  be  unshakeable.  All  the  other  tribes  had 
been  engaged  in  the  plot.  F^ach  was  to  tall  on  the 
settlement  of  the  French  designated  to  it,  and  the  at- 
tacks were  to  be  simultaneous.  Even  the  Choctaws. 
the  most  numerous  nation  in  the  neighbourhood  and 
that  on  whom  the  French  placed  the  greatest  reli- 
ance, had  been  gained,  though  partially  only. 

Their  villages  were  divided  into  two  distinct  set- 
tlements. The  eastern  or  the  great,  and  western  or 
the  little  nation. — The  I'ormer  had  refused  to  join  in 
the  conspiracy;  but  they  kept  it  secret,  till  it  would 
have  been  too  late  to  have  warded  off  the  blow,  if 
it  had  been  struck  at  the  time. 

Perrier  was  informed  that  these  Indians  had  some 
misunderstanding  with  Diron  d'Artaguette  (the  son 
of  the  former  commissary  ordonnateur)  successor,  in 
the  command  of  Fort  Conde  of  Marigny  de  Mande- 
ville,  who  had  died  during  the  preceding  year, 
after  having  received  the  appointment  of  i\laj. General 
of  the  troops.  He  theretbre  desired  the  attendance 
of  the  headmen  of  every  village  of  botii  nations,  at< 
New  Orleans. 


8  'i 


''«»ii 


:'7U 


CHAPTER 


fi72i; 


^i 


If 


In  this  interview,  he  succee^led  in  removing  all 
grounds  of  eom plaint.  The  head  men  oflhe  west- 
ern villages  lett  him  determined  to  hreak  the  promise 
they  hdd  giv(Mi  to  the  Chiekasaws  to  tall  on  the  settle- 
ment or!VIohile,hiit  equ  illy  so  to  deceive  him  and  have 
the  part,  that  had  heen  cast  ofl'to  them  in  the  dire 
tragedy,  peri'ormed  hy  the  Natchez,  in  the  Icjcof 
reaping  a  douhle  advantage  iVom  the  French,  for 
their  assistance;  in  tfie  pillage  made  on.  and  the 
prisoners  taken  from,  the  Natchez,  whose  discomfi- 
ture, they  considered  as  certain. 

Perrier  had  been  sensible,  from  his  arrival  in  the 
colony,  of  the  necessity  of  strengthening  distant 
posts.  The  province  had  indeed  many  forts  ; 
but  none  of  any  importance,  except  that  of  Mobile. 
The  others  were  heaps  of  rotten  timber,  and  hard- 
ly one  of  them  was  garrisoned  by  more  than  twenty 
men.  He  had  frequently  represented  his  dangerous 
situation  to  the  company  and  solicited  a  reinforce- 
ment of  two  or  three  hundred  men.  His  fears  had 
been  considered  as  chimerical.  It  was  thought  he 
desired  only  to  increase  his  command,  or  sought  to 
embroil  the  colony  in  war,  in  order  to  display  his 
skill  in  terminating  it. 

In  the  meanwhile,  the  execution  of  the  plan  of  the 
Chiekasaws  had  been  abandoned  or  delayed.  Per- 
haps they  had  discovered  symptoms  of  defection,  in 
the  behaviour  of  the  Choctaws.  The  indiscretion 
and  ill  conduct  of  Chepar,  who  commanded  at  Fort 
Rosalie  in  the  country  of  the  "^^atchez.  induced  these 
Indians  to  become  principals,  instead  of  auxiliaries,  in 
the  havock. 

This  officer,  coveting  a  tract  of  land  in  the  posses- 
sion of  one  of  the  chiefs,  had  used  menaces  Jo  induce 
him  to  surrender  it,  and  unable  to  intimidate  the  stur- 
dy Indian,  had  resorted  to  violence.      The  nation  to 


li;i. 


[1720 

noviiig  all 
ft  he  wcst- 
e  promise 
the  settle- 
i  and  have 
II  the  dire 
he  1  cj  cof 
•ench,  for 
II.  and  the 
!  discomfi- 

ival  in  the 
ng  distant 
Liiy  forts  ; 
or  Mobile. 
,  and  hard- 
lan  twenty 
dangerous 
,  reinforce- 
fears  had 
houglit  he 
r  sought  to 
dispUiy  his 

plan  of  the 
^ed.  Per- 
efection,  in 
ndiscretion 
led  at  Fort 
uced  these 
xiliaries,  in 

the  posses- 
■i  to  induce 
ite  the  stur- 
le  nation  to 


1729} 


THE  fU.EVENTH. 


71 


whom  (ho  commandant's  ronduci  had  rendered  him 
obnoxious,  took  part  with  its  injured  member — and 
re\  enge  was  determined  on.  The  suns  sat  in  council 
to  devise  the  means  ol  annoyance,  and  d"termined 
not  to  confine  chastisement  to  the  oHlender  ;  but, 
having  secured  tlie  co-operation  ol'  all  the  tribes, 
hostile  to  the  f^rencli.  to  ellect  the  total  overthiovv  of 
the  settlement,  murder  all  white  men  in  ii,  and  reduce 
the  women  and  ciiildren  to  slavery.  JNlessengers 
were  accordingly  sent  to  all  the  villages  of  the 
Nat(;hez  and  tlie  tribes  in  their  alliance,  to  induce 
them  to  get  themsi  Ives  ready  and  come  on  a  given 
day  to  begin  the  slaughter.  For  this  purpose,  bun- 
dles of  an  e(jual  number  of  sticks  were  prepared  and 
sent  to  every  village,  with  directions  to  take  ou*  a 
stick  every  day,  alter  that  of  the  new  moon,  and  the 
attack  w  as  to  be  on  that,  on  w  hich  the  last  stick  was 
taken  out. 

This  matter  was  kept  a  protound  secret  among  the 
chiefs  and  the  Indians  employed  by  them,  and  par- 
ticular care  was  taken  to  conceal  it  from  the  women. 
One  of  the  female  suns,  however,  soon  discovered 
that  a  momentous  measure,  of  which  she  was  not 
informed,  was  on  foot.  Leading  one  of  lier  sons  to  a 
distant  and  retired  spot,  in  the  woods,  she  upbraided 
him  with  his  want  of  confidence  in  his  mother,  and 
artfully  drew  from  liim  the  details  of  the  intended  at- 
tack. The  bundle  of  sticks  lor  her  village  had  been 
deposited  in  the  temple,  and  to  the  keeper  of  it,  the 
eare  had  been  entrusted  of  taking  out  a  stick  daily. — 
Having  liom  her  rank  access  to  the  fane  at  all  times, 
she  secretly,  and  at  dillerent  moments,  detached  one 
or  two  sticks  and  then  threw  them  into  the  sacred 
fire.  Unsatisfied  with  this,  she  gave  notice  of  the  im- 
pending danger  to  an  olficer  of  the  garrison,  in 
whom  she  placed  confidence.  But  the  information 
was  either  disbelieved  or  disregarded. 


\-  \  '': 

M'-'  [i 

378 


CHAPTEIl 


[inti 


i  !p  ' 


An  accidental  circumstance  <!oncurn'(l  to  drslroy 
the  intended  concert,  hy  hasteninji;  the  attack.  v\ith- 
out  preventinsj;  its  sncc'ess.  In  tlie  latter  part  ot"  No- 
veinher  1729,  several  boats  reached  the  landin";  Irorn 
New  Orleans,  loaded  with  a  considerable  quantity  of 
goods,  provisions  and  ainnuniition.  Decei\ed  hy  the 
artifice  of  the  female  sun,  or  tempted  by  the  arrival 
of  the  boat,  the  Natchez  in  the  neighbourhooti  de- 
termined on  a  sudden  attack,  before  tiie  day  that. 
had  been  designated. 

For  this  purpose,  a  numVjer  of  them  equal  to  that 
of  the  French  in  the  tort  and  on  the  two  grants, 
went  into  these  places,  while  another  party,  pretend- 
ing they  wer<'  preparing  for  a  great  huntiiig  expedi- 
tion, asked  the  loan  of  a  few  pieces  and  otlered  to  pay 
for  some  powder  and  shot.  They  bartered,  in  this 
way,  a  ((uantity  of  corn  and  fowls.  A  supply  being 
thus  obtained,  the  attack  was  bt^gun  at  nine  o'clock, 
each  Indian  among  the  French  falling  on  his  man. 
Before  noon,  upwards  of  two  hundred  of  the  latter 
were  massacred,  ninety-two  women  and  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty-five  children  were  made  prisoners. 

The  principal  persons  who  then  fell  were  Chepar, 
the  commandant,  Laloire,  the  principal  agent  of  the 
company  hi  the  post,  Kollys  father  and  son,  who  hav- 
ing purchased  Hubert's  grant  on  St.  Catherine  Creek 
had  just  arrived  to  take  possession  of  it,  Bailly,  Cor- 
dere.  Desnoyers,  Longpre,  and  father  Foisson,  the 
Jesuit  Missionary  of  the  Y'azous,  who  was  accidental- 
ly there.  Two  white  men  only  were  spared  ;  a  car- 
penter and  a  tailor — the  Indians  imagining  they 
might  be  useful.     No  injury  was  done  to  any  negro. 

During  the  massacre,  the  great  sun  with  appcar- 
ant  unconcern,  smoaked  his  pipe,  in  the  company"')!- 
warehouse.  His  men  bringing  the  heads  of  the  offi- 
cers, placed  that  of  Chepar  near  him,  and  those  ot 


i 


1()  (Irstroy 
ark.  willi- 
;irt  of  No- 
uliisfi;  from 
Hianlit)'  of 
K'd  by  the 
ho  arrival 
irhooti  tlo 
B  day  that. 

ual  to  that 
vo  i^raiits. 
%  prctcnd- 
ig  oxpcdi- 
red  to  pay 
ed,  in  this 
;)ply  being 
le  o  clock, 
1  his  man. 
"  the  latter 

one  hun- 
oners. 
e  Che  par, 
^ent  of  the 

who  hav- 
ine  Creek 
lilly,  Cor- 
•isson,  tfie 
ccidental- 
d  ;  a  car- 
ing they 
iiy  negro, 
h  appear- 
ionipanyV 
)fthe  offi- 
d  those  ot 


1759] 


THE  ELEVENTH 


273 


the  rest  around  it.  Their  bodies  and  those  of  the 
other  Frenchmen  were  left  the  prey  of  vermin  and 
buzzards. 

The  savage  i^oc  ripped  open  the  In^llies  of  preg- 
nant  women,  and  killed  those  who  had  young  child- 
ren, whose  cries  importuned  them. 

As  soon  as  the  Great  Sun  was  informed  there  did 
not  remain  a  white  man  alive,  except  the  carpenter 
and  tailor,  he  ordered  the  pillage  to  begin.  The 
warehouse,  fort,  dwelling  houses  and  the  boats  were 
ransacked ;  the  negroes  being  employed  in  bringing 
out  the  plunder.  It  was  immediately  divided,  except 
the  arms  and  ammunition,  which  were  kept  for  pub- 
lic use. 

As  long  as  the  liquor  lasted,  the  nights  were  spent 
in  gambols  and  carousing,  and  the  days  in  barba- 
rous and  indecent  insults,  on  the  mangled  bodies  of 
the  victims. 

Two  soldiers,  who  were  accidentally  in  the  woods 
during  the  tragedy,  heard  of  it  on  their  way  back, 
and  sat  off  by  land  to  carry  the  sad  tidings  ol  it  to  New 
Orleans.  Perishing  with  hunger,  fatigue  and  cold, 
they  approached  late  at  night,  during  a  heavy  rain, 
a  cabin,  from  which  their  ears  were  saluted  with  the 
yells  of  Indians :  they  determined  on  entering  it,  rather 
than  to  remain  exposed  during  the  rest  of  the  night 
to  the  pelting  tempest,  and  were  agreeably  surprised 
to  find  themselves  with  a  party  of  Yazous,  returning 
from  a  friendly  visit  to  the  Oumas. 

They  were  supplied  with  a  pirogue,  blankets  and 
provisions  and  requested  to  assure  Perrier  the  Yazous 
would  ever  remain  steadfast  in  their  friendship  for 
the  French,  that  they  would  proceed  up  the  river 
and  warn  every  white  man  they  should  meet  of  the 
impending  danger. 

This  humane  disposition,  however,  vanished,  when 

LOU.  I.  3/3 


274 


CHAPTKK 


[173^ 


i' 
'^i 


on  their  reaching  the  Natchez,  presents  were  made 
ttieiM  of  a  part  of  the  spoil.  Tliey  sufTiMed  them- 
selves to  he  prevaiU'd  on  to  imitate  the  hitter. 

Father  Soulet,  the  missionary  of  the  Natchez,  was 
returning  from  an  excursion  in  the  woods,  wlien  he 
was   shot   near   his  cahin.       His  nci^ro  attempted  to 
prevent  tlie  pillage  ol  his  goods;  hut  th'j  Indians  im 
mediately  dispatched  him. 

They  proc(»eded,  on  the  next  day,  to  Fort  St.  Peter, 
of  the  Yazous.  There  were  hut  fourteen  men  in  it, 
under  the  orders  of  the  Chevalier  des  Roches.  They 
were  massacred  with  their  chief  Two  women  and 
five  children  were  carried  into  slavery. 

Some  of  tlic  Indians  had  put  on  the  chaplain's 
clothes  and  even  the  sacerdotal  vestments.  These 
headed  their  countrymen  hack  to  the  village  ol"  the 
Natchez,  who  soon  discovered  Iroin  the  fantastic  dress 
and  gestures  of  the  Yazous,  thnt  they  had  imitated 
their  example  and  dest''oyed  every  white  man  among 
them. 

Father  Doutrelau,  the  missionary  of  tlie  Arkansas, 
availing  himself  of  the  leisure  of  the  hunting  season, 
to  make  a  trip  to  New  Orleans,  was  descending  the 
river,  having  left  his  mission  on  new-year's  day.  He 
hitended  to  stop  and  say  mass,  at  Fatlier  Soulet's,  of 
whose  death  he  was  ignorant;  hut  being  unable  to 
arrive  in  time,  he  had  stopped  at  the  mouth  of  the 
little  river  of  the  Yazous,  and  begun  his  arrangements 
for  the  celebrating  of  the  holy  mysteries.  He  was 
dressing  his  altar,  when  a  pirogue  full  ol  Indians  ap- 
proached. On  being  hailed,  they  answered  they 
wire  Yazous  and  friends  of  the  French.  They  came 
ashore  and  shook  hands,  with  the  holy  man  and  his 
conipaiiions.  A  Hock  ot  ducks  passing  over,  the  fath- 
er's fellow  travellers  fired  at  them,  without  taking 
tlie  precaution  of  reloading  their  pieces ;    this  im- 


[173^ 


.1730] 


Vm:  KI.EVHNTll 


27i 


^ro  made 
va\  thorn- 

• 

•lic'z,  wab 
wIh'ii  lie 
'mpted  to 
idiaiis  iin 

St.  Peter, 
men  in  it, 
?8.  They 
)men  and 

chaplain's 
s.  These 
\<^o  ol"  the 
istic  dress 
1  imitated 
lan  among 

Arkansas, 
ig  season, 
nding  the 
day.  He 
oulet's,  ol 
unable  to 
uth  of"  the 
mgements 

He  was 
ridians  ap- 
ered  they 
hey  came 
an  and  his 
,  the  fath- 
ut   taking 

this  im- 


pru<lenee  did  not  escape  the  attention  ol  the  Indians, 
wfio  phieed  th(Mnselves  behind  th<'in.  as  if  intending 
to  join  in  (heir  devotions.  Tlir  first  psahnwas  hanlly 
finisfied,  before  a  discharge  otthe  pieces  of  the  In- 
dians wounded  the  father  in  the  arm,  and  killed  one 
of  the  men,  who  wert;  waiting  on  hini.  The  other 
Frenchmen,  seeing  their  companion  dead  and  the 
father  woun<led,  imagining  he  had  met  the  same  late, 
fled  to  their  pirogue;  but,  his  wound  being  a  llesh 
one  only,  he  soon  rose  and  running  to  the  river,  with 
the  sacerdotal  vestments  o[i,  got  on  board.  The  In- 
dians fired  again  :  one  of  the  men  had  his  thigh  broke 
and  the  father  received  another  small  injury. 

The  pirogue  was  drifting:  the  lndia?is,  running 
along  the  shore,  continued  their  fire,  but  witliout  do- 
ing any  more  mischief  The  French  stopped,  as 
soon  as  they  were  out  of  the  reach  of  a  ball,  to  wash 
the  wounds  of  their  men,  and  then  pushed  for  the 
settlement  of  the  Natchez. 

On  their  arrival,  seeing  the  houses  burnt  or  thrown 
down,  they  did  not  sutler  themselves  to  be  prevailed 
on  to  land,  by  the  invitation  ol  the  Indians,  who  hail- 
ed them,  and  soon  substituted  the  fire  of  their  arms, 
to  the  calls  of  friendship  and  hospitality.  They  de- 
termined on  avoiding  either  shore,  till  they  reach- 
ed New  Orleans,  and  began  to  apprehend  that  on 
their  arrival  there,  they  would  find  it  necessary  to 
drift  to  the  Balize.  On  the  event  of  the  dire  catas- 
trophe, which  began  at  the  Yazous,  having  continued 
down  to  the  lower  settlement  on  the  river,  ihey 
hoped  to  find,  on  board  of  the  shipping,  some  person 
escaped  from  the  general  massacre. 

As  they  approached  bayou  Tunica,  they  rowed 
close  to  the  opposite  shore,  but  were  discovered,  and 
a  pirogue  left  the  landing  to  reconnoitre  them.  They 
pulled   faster,  but  it  gained  on  them:    on  hearing 


V 


i 


^^•71) 


Cn  AFT  til 


[\l\Hii 


u      t 


French  spoken  on  bonni,  joy  succeeded  to  alarm. 
Crossing  the  Htrearn  with  their  countrymen,  they  soon 
found  themselves  in  the  mi<ldh'  ol"  a  small  force  jratli- 
cred  from  Pointe  Coupee,  Baton  Uoui^e  and  ManHJiac. 
They  were  tricndly  receivcnJ :  sur^<'ons  attended 
their  wounds,  and  all  were  acctommodated  with  room, 
in  a  lar^o  and  couunodious  hoat,  that  was  «T;oiiiu;  to 
New  Orleans  lor  pro\isions. 

As  soon  as  information  of  the  massacre  reached  the 
city,  Perrier  despatched  one  of  tlic  company  ships 
that  were  i[i  the  colony,  to  France,  for  troops  and 
succour.  Me  sent  conrriers  to  the  Illinois,  by  Ked 
River  and  to  Mobile,  the  Choctaws  and  the  coinitry 
watered  l>y  the  Tennessee  and  Kentucky  rivers,  on 
the  other  bide.  Emissaries  went  also  to  the  Indian 
tribes  in  allianc(>  with  the  French.  Fvery  house  in 
the  city,  and  the  plantations  near  it,  was  supplied  w  ith 
arms  anil  ammunition  out  olthe  company's  maga/ine. 
and  the  two  remaining  shi[)s  were  directed  to  proceed 
as  far  as  bayou  Tunica,  for  the  reception  aLid  safe- 
ty of  women  and  children,  i?i  the  last  extremity.  The 
city  was  surrounded  by  a  wide  ditch,  and  guards  were 
put  at  each  corner.  There  were  then  small  forts  al 
the  Tchapitoulas,  Cannes  brulees,  the  German  Coast. 
Manshac  and  Pointe  Coupee. 

Perrier  had  collected  ahout  three  hundred  soWiers: 
having  sent  for  those  at  Fort  St.  Louis  and  Fort 
Conde.  Three  hundred  men  of  the  militia  had  join- 
ed this  force,  and  he  was  preparing  to  march  at  theii 
head,  when  it  was  discovered  that  the  negroes  on  the 
plantations  evinced  symptoms  of  an  intention  of  join- 
ing the  Indians  against  their  masters,  in  the  hope  ol 
obtaining  their  liberty,  as  some  had  done  at  the 
Natchez.  There  were  then  nearly  two  thousand 
blacks  in  tlie  colony,  a  number  equal  to  one  half  of 
the  French,  but  the  most  of  them  were  in  or  at  a  short 


[17130 


r7:j6j 


lllK  KLKVKNTH. 


211 


[>  alarm, 
icy  tiooii 

laiisliac. 
itlnuled 
illi  room, 
goiiii^  to 

cIumI  tho 
:\\y  ships 
tops  and 
,  In  Kod 
'  country 
'iv(M'S  on 

10  Indian 
lioiise  in 
tjiod  willi 
iiaejazinr, 
»  proceed 
and  sal'e- 
ily.  The 
irds  wore 

11  lorts  at 
an  Coast. 

soldiers: 
and  Fort 
had  join- 
li  at  their 
es  on  the 
>n  ol'join- 
e  hope  ol 
e  at  the 
thousand 
e  half  oi 
it  a  shorl 


distance  ahovo  the  city,  where  their  niimher  perhaps 
preponderated  over  that  of  tiie  French.  '1  he  com- 
pany had  a  ^anf]f  of  two  hundred  and  sixly,  on  their 
plantation,  and  there  wer«»  less,  hut  yet  very  conside- 
rahle,  i^ani^rt  on  some  of  the  [jriiicipal  ijriinls.  A  few 
j)arties  of  vagrant  Indians  were  hoverin«^  around  the 
city,  and  f»reatly  excited  the  alarms  of  its  inludiitants. 
Perrier,  theret()re,  gave  the  comniand  of  this  small 
army  to  the  chevalier  d(j  Loul)oiH,  and  sent  onwards 
an  ollicer  of  the  nairje  of  Mispleix,  to  procure?  infor- 
mation of  the  strength  and  motions  of  the  en(!my. 

Lesu«'ur,  who  had  gone  to  the  ('hoctaws,  (;ollecled 
seven  huiidrcd  warriors  of  that  nation  and  led  them 
across  the  coinitry. 

Mispleix  landed  at  the  Natchez  on  the  twenty- 
fourth  of  January,  with  fivcMTien.  '^I'he  Indians  had 
noticed  the  approach  of  this  small  party:  they  fn-ed 
on  it  arid  killed  three  men  and  made  Mispleix  and 
the  other  two  prisoners. 

Louhois  was  advancing:  his  force  had  been  swell- 
ed at  bayou  Tunica  by  the  militia  of  Manshac, 
Baton  Rouge  and  Pointc  Coupee  and  a  few  Indians. 
The  Natchez,  apprised  of  this  by  their  runners,  des- 
patched some  of  their  chiefs  to  meet,  and  offer  peace 
to  Loubois. 

Their  pretentions  were  high  ;  they  required  that 
Broutin,  who  had  before  been  in  command  at  Fort 
Rosalie,  and  the  principal  chief  of  the  Tunica  Indi- 
ans should  be  sent  as  hostages.  They  demanded 
for  the  ransom  of  the  women  and  children  in  their 
possession,  two  hundred  barrels  of  powder,  two  thou- 
sand flints,  four  thousand  weight  of  balls,  two  hundred 
knives  and  as  many  axes,  hoes,  shirts,  coats,  pieces  of 
linen  and  ginghams,  twenty  coats  laced  on  every  seam, 
and  as  many  laced  hats  with  plumes,  twenty  barrels 
of  brandy,  and  as  many  of  wine.    Their  intention  was 


(^•:.,- 


'    '"'l 


■i.  ' 


1 


7« 


CHAPTER 


[1730 


u 


to   have  miirderecl  the  men,  coming  up  with  these 
goods. 

On  t!ie  clay  after  the  departure  of  these  chiefs,  they 
burnt  Mespleix  and  his  two  companions. 

Lesueur,  with  his  ('hoclaw  iorce.  which  on  the  way 
had  been  increased  to  Iwelve  fiundred,  arrived  on  the 
twenty-ei,';hth,  in  the  evening.  Runners,  whom  he 
had  seiit  ahead,  met  him  with  the  information,  that  the 
Natchez  were  not  at  all  aware  of  his  approach,  quite 
out  of  their  guard,  and  spending  their  time  in  dancing 
and  carousing.  The  intelligence  soon  spreading  in 
Loubois'  camp,  he  was  absolutely  unable  to  retain 
his  Indians,  as  he  was  ordered  to  do,  until  he  was  join- 
ed by  F^oubois,  with  the  army  from  New  Orleans. 

At  day  break,  on  the  twenty-ninth,  the  Choctaws. 
in  spite  of  their  leader's  entreaties,  fell  on  the  Natch- 
ez, and  after  a  conflict  of  about  three  hours,  brought 
away  sixty  scalps,  and  eighteen  prisoners — they  liber- 
ated the  carpenter  and  tailor,  with  fifty-one  women 
and  children,  and  one  imndred  and  six  negroes. 
They  had  only  two  men  killed,  and  eight  wounded. 
After  the  battle,  they  encamped  en  St.  Catherine's 
creek. 

The  issue  of  this  attack  inspired  the  Natchez  with 
terror.  They  upbraided  the  Choctaws  for  their  per- 
fidy and  treachery;  attesting  their  solemn  promise  to 
join  in  the  conspiracy  and  afford  their  aid,  in  the  to- 
tal destruction  of  the  French. 

Loubois  came  up  on  the  eighth  of  February.  The 
six  hundred  men  of  the  regular  force  and  militia,  he 
had  taken  at  New  Orleans,  had  been  joined  on  the 
way  to  bayou  Tunica  by  one  hundred  others,  and  had 
found  there  two  hundred  French  :  and  three  hundred  * 
Indians  of  the  Oumas,  Chetimachas  and  Tunicas  had 
joined  the  army  on  its  march  to  the  Natchez,  so  that 
it  consisted  of  upwards  of  fourteen  hundred  men. 


[1730 
th  these 
efs,  they 

the  way 
'd  on  the 
^' ho  111  he 
.  that  the 
ch,  quite 
1  dancing 
wading  in 
to  retain 
was  jou;- 
leans. 
hoctaws. 
le  Natch- 
,  broughl 
liey  hber- 
e  women 

negroes, 
ivounded. 
itherine's 

hez  with 
heir  per- 
romise  to 
n  the  to- 


1730J 


•llli:  hlLEVENTtl. 


27;» 


d 


ry.    The 

litia,  he 

on  the 

and  had 

hundred 

licas  had 

i;,  so  tha( 

ed  men. 


mostly  white.  The  impatience  arul  indocihty  of  the 
frien<lly  Indians,  the  now  great  rehitive  number  olthe 
red  people,  tlie  I'atigue  oithe  march,  the  scarcity  ot 
ammunition,  wliieh  the  Indians  either  wasted  or  pur- 
loined, ihe  strong  resistance  olthe  Natchez,  wlio  had 
entrenched  themselves  and  I'ougiit  like  desperadoes, 
induced  Loui>ois,  on  the  seventh  day  after  the  open- 
ing of  the  trenches,  to  listen  to  the  proposals  of  the 
besiegt'd,  who  threatened,  if  he  persisted,  to  burn 
the  white  women  and  children  still  in  th(^ir  possessi- 
on, and  ollered  to  surrender  them,  if  the  eleven  field 
pieces  he  had  were  withdrawn.  There  were  not  in 
the  whole  army  one  man  that  could  manage  them,  and 
the  only  hope  entertained  of  them  was,  that  they 
might  scare  the  Indians. 

(Jn  the  twenty-fifth,  the  terms  were  accepted  ;  and 
all  the  prisoners  being  sent  to  Loubois'  camp,  the  ar- 
my mov(Hl  to  the  bluliand  erected  a  small  fort  to  keep 
the  Indians  in  awe,  and  protect  the  navigation  of  the 
river. 

Loubois  deemed  it  necessary,  betore  the  departure 
of  the  army,  to  make  an  example  of  three  of  the  ne. 
groes,  who  had  been  the  most  active  and  forward  in 
inducing  the  rest  to  join  the  Natchez.  They  were  ac- 
cordingly delivered  to  the  Choctaws,  who  burnt  them 
with  a  cruelty  that  inspired  the  others  with  the  great- 
est horror  for  the  Indians,  and  the  resort  to  which 
certaiidy  found  an  apology  in  the  circumstances  of 
the  case. 

The  inhabitants  of  New  Orleans  received  with 
open  arms,  in  the  bosom  of  their  families,  the  widows 
and  children  of  their  frieiids,  who  had  fallen  under 
ihe  tomahawk  of  the  Natchez.  Benevolence  reliev- 
ed their  wants,  and  tenderness  ministered  those  suc- 
cours, which  protracted  captivity  and  suftbrings 
called  for      The   nnns  opened  their  cloister  to  the 


i8u 


(JlIAl'TKll 


[I'/.iO 


I '•••I 


if 
11 


orphans  of  their  sex  :  those  of  the  other  were  divided 
into  the  lainihes  of  tlie  easy  and  atHuent,  and  many  a 
matron  hstened  to  solicitations  to  put  an  early  end  to 
her  widowhood. 

The  Chickasaws  had  offered  an  asylum  in  their  na- 
tion to  the  Natchez;  it  had  heen  accepted  by  a  num- 
ber of  them.  Having  tlius  aided  the  enemies  of  the 
French,  they  sought  to  increase  their  number,  and 
sent  emissaries  to  the  lUinois  to  induce  them  to  join 
in  the  common  cause.  These  hidians  rephed  they 
would  assist  their  white  friends  on  the  Mississippi 
with  all  their  might,  and  they  sent  a  deputation  to 
"errier  to  assure  him  of  the  dependence  he  could  put 
in  their  nation,  of  their  sorrow  at  the  catastrophe  at 
the  i\atcb<'z.  and  their  readiness  to  lose  their  lives  in 
the  (leiV'iice  of  his  countrymen. 

Tliey  returned  in  the  latter  part  of  .Tune  to  join  the 
Arkansas,  in  order  to  tall  on  the  Yazous  and  Coroas. 
A  party  of -he  latter,  going  to  the  Chickasaws,  were 
nif  t  by  one  of  the  Tchaoumas  and  Choctaws,  who  kil- 
led eighteen  of  them,  and  released  some  B^rench  wo- 
men and  children,  they  were  carrying  away.  A  few 
days  after,  a  mnnber  of  Arkansas  lell  on  a  party  '^f  the 
Yazous.  scalped  lour  men,  and  took  four  women, 
whom  they  led  into  captivity.  Returning  homewards 
they  met  several  Canadian  lamilies  going  to  New  Or- 
leans ;  they  bewailed  with  them  the  disaster  of  their 
countrymen,  and  particularly  the  death  of  tather  Pois- 
son,  who  had  been  their  missionary  bel'ore  he  moved 
to  the  V  azous  :  they  vowed  that,  as  long  as  an  Arkan- 
sas lived,  the  Natchez  would  have  an  enemy. 

While  the  northernmost  tribes  remained  thus  attach- 
ed to  the  French,  the  smallest  ones  near  the  sea,  recei- 
ved emissaries  from  the  CUiickasaws,  and  sullered 
themselves  to  be  deluded,  so  far  as  to  achnit  among 
themselves  parties  of  wandering  Indians,  m  ho  much 


{iT.iO 


1.730] 


THE  ELEVENTH. 


Mi 


divided 

manv  a 

y  end  to 

their  na- 
y  a  nuni- 
(Bs  ot"  the 
iber.  and 
1  to  join 
ied  they 
ississippi 
italion  to 
couhl  put 
Lroph(^  at 
ir  lives  in 

o  join  the 
d  Coroas. 
iws,  >vere 
^,  who  kil- 
ench  wo- 
A  few 
rtv  t^(  the 
r  women, 
inewards 
New  Or- 
r  of  their 
ther  Pois- 
he  moved 
an  Arkan- 

lus  attach- 
lea,  recci- 
\\  sullered 
lit  among 
■vho  much 


distressed  the  planters,  and  «jreatly  alarmed  the  inha- 
bitants of  the  city.  The  Chouacfias,  a  very  small 
trihe,  who  originally  occupied  the  margin  of  lake  Bar- 
ataria,  had  renoved  to  that  of  the  Alississippi,  a  lit- 
tle below  the  city,  near  the  English  turn,  and  had  pro- 
ved themselves  useful  to  the  French,  when  they  be- 
gan to  occupy  the  ground  on  which  New  Orleans  now 
stands.  Tln^y  were  suspected  of  being  under  the  in- 
fluence of  tlie  Chickasaws,  and  had  become  obnox- 
ious to  the  colonists.  Their  annihilation  was  judged 
Indipsensable  to  the  tranquillity  of  the  country,  and 
was  determined  on.  The  slaves  of  the  neighbouring 
plantations  were  incautiously  employed  in  this  ser 
vice,  under  the  idea  that  the  warfare  would  sow  be- 
tween them  and  the  Indians,  the  seeds  of  such  mutu- 
al hatred,  as  would  ever  prevent  a  coalition  between 
the  red  and  black  people.  The  negroes  acquitted 
themselves  with  great  fury;  indiscriminately  massa- 
creing  the  young  and  the  old,  the  male  and  tlie  ten- 
derer sex. 

On  the  tenth  of  August,  the  people  of  New^  Orlean? 
received  the  pleasant  int«dligence  oi  the  arrival  at 
the  Balize  a  lew  days  before,  of  a  company's  ship 
with  troops  jind  succour,  under  the  ordiMs  of  Perrier 
de  Salvert,  a  brother  of  the  commandant  general. 
Much  of  their  joy  however  was  abated  when  it  be- 
came known  that  there  were  but  three  companies  of 
marines  on  board,  each  otsixty  men. 

The  company  k<»pt  in  the  province  six  hundred 
and  fifty  men  of  French  troops,  and  two  hundred  of 
tli(^  Swiss.  VVith  this  reiniorcement.  the  total  barely 
('\(!eeded  one  thousand  nien — a  relatively  powerful 
body,  if  there  had  been  but  one  settlement  to  pro- 
tect: but  a  very  insullicient  one,  while  the  establisli. 
m«'nts  weie  sprinkled  over  a  wide  extended  territory. 

Chagrined  at  this  disappointment,  the  commandanf 

Loif.  I.  36 


r 

I 


i 


1^82 


CHAPTER 


[17cH» 


St 


general  made  an  excursion  to  Mobile   to   seek  aid 
among  the  friendly  tribes  near  Fort  Conde. 

On  his  return,  he  issued  a  proclamation  conjuring 
every  able  bodied  man,  not  already  under  arms,  to 
bnwkle  a  knapsack  on  his  back,  put  a  musket  on  his 
shoulder  and  join  the  army.  Hut  little  could  be  ex- 
pected from  this  appeal ;  the  \\  hole  mililia  from  the 
Alibamons  to  the  Cadodquious  and  from  the  Balize 
to  the  Wabash,  not  exceedingeight  hundred  men. 

Most  ofthe  Natchez  Indians,  who  had  not  gone 
over  to  the  Chickasavvs,  had  crossed  the  Mississippi, 
and  marched  through  the  country  of  the  Washi- 
tas  to  the  neighbourhood  ofthe  JNatchitoches,  and  on 
Black  river. 

The  departure  ofthe  army  was  delayed  by  a  most 
distressing  event.  The  negroes  who  liad  been  em- 
ployed in  destroying  the  Chouachas,  in  returning 
to  their  labours,  began  to  feel  more  sensibly  the 
\>  eight  and  the  success  of  the  ferocity  they  had  oi 
their  chain  exercised  against  the  Indians,  gave  a 
hope  that  liberty  might  be  the  result  of  a  similar  at* 
tempt  upon  the  French.  But,  their  views  were  dis- 
covered, arul  the  arrest  and  execution  of  their  lea- 
ders warded  lor  a  while  the  impending  blow. 

The  Arkansas  had  promised  to  come  down  and 
join  Perrier's  force.  He  now^  sent  a  Canadian  ol 
the  name  of  Coulange  to  meet  them,  and  di- 
rected Beaulieu  to  proceed  to  Red  river  and  obtain 
information  of  the  spot  to  which  the  enemy  had  re- 
tired, his  force  and  intended  movements. 

Perrier  de  Salvert,  with  the  van-guard  ofthe  army, 
embarked  on  the  thirteenth  of  November.  It  con- 
sisted of  the  three  companies  of  the  marines,  a  few 
volunteers  and  Indians ;  in  all  about  two  hundred  and 
fifty.  The  commandant  general  sat  off  two  days  af 
ler  with  the  main  body,  not  larger  than  the  van,  com 


seek  aid 

>  ■ 

conjuring 
pr  arms,  to 
iket  on  his 
luld  be  cx- 
a  from  thff 
he    Balize 
3d  men. 
I  not  gone 
Mississippi, 
he  Washi- 
lies,  and  on 

d  by  a  most 
d  been  em- 
i\  returning 
.ensibly  the 
hey  had  ol 
ans,  gave  a 
I  similar  at- 
kvs  were  dis- 
)i'  their  lea- 
ow. 

e  down  and 
Canadian  ol 
?m,  and  di- 
r  and  obiain 
lemy  had  ro- 
of the  army, 
her.  It  con 
arines,  a  few 
hundred  and 
two  days  at' 
he  van.  com 


173i] 


THE  ELEVFNTII. 


2\io 


>ed  of  regulars  and  volunteers.     Benac,  who 


com- 
manded the  militia,  led  the  rear,  which  did  not  ex- 
ceed one  hundred  and  fifty.  The  late  alarm  render- 
ed it  necessary  that  the  forts  should  continue  to  be 
well  garrisoned,  to  insure  tranquillity  and  awe  the 
slaves. 

The  army  stopped  on  the  right  side  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, opposite  to  Bayou  Manshac,  where  a  Cola pissa 
chief  led  forty  warriore.  It  now  consisted  of  about 
seven  hundred  men. 

Lesueur  was  sent  forward  and  ordered  to  ascend 
Red  river.  On  his  way,  he  receivec'  the  painful  in- 
telligence of  the  Natchez  having  surj^rised  Coulange 
and  Beaulieu,  killed  the  former  and  wounded  the 
latter.  Of  the  twenty-five  men  who  accompanied  them, 
sixteen  had  been  killed  or  wounded.  The  Arkansas 
had  come  down,  according  to  their  promise;  but  not 
hearing  of  the  army,  grew  impatient  and  return- 
ed. He  immediately  communicated  the  intelligence 
to  his  chief. 

Perrier,  having  ordered  the  army  to  proceed  to  the 
mouth  of  Red  river,  stopped  at  Bayou  I'unica,  to  join 
the  Indians,  who  had  [»''en  directed  to  rendezvous 
there  ;  one  hundred  and  fifty  warriors  oidy  met  him. 
He  joined  the  army  with  these  on  the  fourth  of  Jan- 
uary. 

His  whole  force  now  consisted  of  about  one  thou- 
sand men.  He  ascended  Red  and  Black  rivers,  and 
on  the  twentieth  came  in  sight  of  one  of  the  enemy's 
forts,  on  the  banks  of  the  latter.  The  trenches  were 
immediately  opened,  and  the  artillery  landed  on  the 
following  day.  On  the  next,  the  enemy  made  a  sally, 
wounded  an  otficer,  and  killed  a  soldier  and  a  negro. 
On  the  twenty-fifth,  a  white  flag  was  hoisted  on  the 
fort  and  a  similar  one  displayed  on  the  trenches  j 
5oon  after,  an  Indian  came  out  with  a  calumet,  suing  for 


284 


CHAPTER 


[I73J 


;':' 


peace  and  ofTtTing  1o  surrender  every  negro  in  the 
Ibrt.  IVrrier  told  him  he  would  receive  the  negroes, 
and  if  the  Indians  wished  for  peace,  they  should 
send  the  chiefs  to  speak  with  him  The  messenger 
rephed  the  chiei's  would  not  come  out;  hut  if  Perrier 
would  come  fortli  to  the  head  of  the  trenches,  tlie 
duels  would  meet  him  there.  He  was  directed  to  go 
and  fetch  the  negroes,  and  an  answer  would  he  given 
on  his  return. 

H;ilfan  hour  after,  he  hrought  eighteen  negro  men 
and  one  woman,  and  said  the  chieis  would  not  come 
out — that  peace  was  wanted,  and  if  the  army  would 
return,  hostilities  would  cease.  Perrier  replied  no 
proposal  wouM  be  listened  to,  until  the  chiefs  came 
to  speak  with  him.  and  if  they  did  not.  the  attack 
would  be  resumed,  and  quarters  given  to  uo  one. 

The  messenger  went  back,  and  returning  soon 
after,  said  the  warriors  insisted  on  the  chieis  not 
coming  out,  and  except  on  this  head,  were  ready  to 
accede  to  any  proposition.  Perrier  told  him  the 
cannon  were  ready,  and  he  still  insisted  on  the  chiefs 
coming  out — that  if  they  compelled  him  lo  fire,  he 
would  not  stop  till  the  fort  was  blown  to  atoms,  and 
no  one  would  be  spared. 

On  the  mairs  return,  a  Natchez  Indian,  of  the  naujc 
of  St.  Come,  a  son  to  the  head  lemale  sun,  and  as  such 
heir  to  the  sunship.  wlio  had  always  been  on  a  Iriend- 
ly  footing  wilfi  tlu^  French,  came  to  Perrier's  camp: 
he  told  liimtliat  now  as  peace  was  made,  the  French 
army  should  return — that  he  grieved  much  at  the 
conduct  of  his  nation,  but  every  thing  ought  to  be 
forgotten;  especially,  as  fhe  prime  mover  of  all  the 
mischief  had  fallen  in  the  attack  of  the  Choctaws. 
Perrier  told  him  he  was  glad  to  see  him,  but  he  de- 
sired to  see  the  great  sun  also,  but  would  not  be  play- 
ed with,  and  he  hoped  no  Natchez  Indian  uould  ap- 


■•4 


TO  HI  the 

■  negroes, 
?y  should 
lesseiiger 
il  Perrier 
iclies,  tlie 
:tecl  to  go 
be  given 


1731] 


rHE  ELEVENTH. 


285 


egro  mm 
not  come 
ly  would 
ppHed  no 
iel's  came 
he  attack 
one. 

liing  soon 
:hiets  not 
'  ready  to 
him  the 
the  chiefs 
o  fire,  he 
toms,  and 

the  name 
d  as  such 

a  Iriend- 
•*s  camp : 
e  French 
:h  at  the 
ght  to  be 
ol"  all  the 

hoctaws, 
t  he  de- 
L  be  play- 

ould  ap- 


proacli  him,  except  in  the  company  ol  the  hitter, 
as  he  would  order  any  one  to  he  fired  on,  who  would 
come  with  any  other  proposal. 

St.  Come  took  leave,  and  halt  an  hoin*  after  return- 
ed with  the  head  sun,  and  another  chiel.  called  the 
chief  of  the  flour,  who  was  the  prime  mover  ol  all  the 
mischief;  St.  Come  having  sought  to  screen  him. 

The  Great  Sun  assured  Perrier.  he  had  had  no 
hand  in  the  massacre  of  the  French,  and  was  very 
much  pleased  at  the  opportunity  of  treating  with  him; 
St  Come,  exculpated  him.  The  chief  of  the  Hour 
said  he  was  sorry  for  what  had  happened.  As  they 
were  exposed  to  the  rain,  which  was  now  increasing. 
Perrier,  pointing  to  a  cabin  near  (he  n,  bid  them  to 
take  shelter  in  it :  on  their  doing  s( ,  he  ordered  lour 
men  to  guard  the  door,  and  directed  Lesueur  and 
two  oflicers,  attentively  to  watch  them. 

Lesueur,  speaking  their  language,  went  in,  and  at- 
tempted to  get  into  a  conversation  with  them;  but 
they  kept  a  stubborn  silence  and  lay  down  to  sleep. 
The  other  two  officers  did  the  same  on  their  rising, 
Lesueur  went  to  rest  towards  mid-night. — Ahout  three 
hours  after,  he  was  awakened  by  a  sudden  noise,  and 
saw  the  Great  Sun  and  St.  Come,  endeavouring  to  es- 
cape from  the  sentry — the  officers  and  th<*  two  other 
soldiers  had  gone  in  pursuit  of  the  chief  of  the  flour, 
who.  having  eluded  their  vigilance,  had  fled  ;  Lesueur 
pointing  his  pistol  at  the  two  captives,  they  refrained 
from  any  (urther  attempt  to  escape. 

At  day  break,  an  Indian  came  irom  the  fort  to  visit 
the  Great  Sun :  being  conducted  to  the  cabin,  he  told 
him  the  chief  of  the  flo*:.^  having  reached  the  fort  had 
called  apart  ter  warriors,  antl  assured  them,  Perrier 
was  determined  on  burning  them  all ;  that  for  his  part 
he  had  made  up  his  mind,  nolotJger  to  remain  exposed 
'n  fall  into  his  hands,  and  advised  them  to  look  ibr 


I 


vi 


'iUti 


CHAPTER 


[1731 


their  own  safety,  with  him.  Accordinsfly  they  had 
followed  him,  with  their  women  and  children,  while 
the  rest  lost  in  deliberation,  the  tavourahle  moments, 
and  at  day  break  found  their  flight  was  no  lon{t!;or  pos- 
sible. The  Great  Sun  observed  this  chiel  was  an 
usurper. 

Perripr  bid  his  prisoner,  towards  the  evening,  to 
send  word  to  his  people  to  come  out  with  t!\eir  wo- 
men and  children,  and  he  would  spare  ih'ir  lives, 
and  prevent  his  Indians  from  hurling  ihern.  This 
was  done,  by  the  messenger  of  the  morning;  hut 
compliance  was  refused. 

In  the  morning,  the  Great  faun's  wife  and  some  oiler 
members  of  his  family  visited  him.  IVrri*  r  receivf'd 
them  well,  because  they  had  afforded  proucliou  to 
the  French  prisoners.  Sixty-five  men  and  about  two 
hundred  women  came  in  towards  noon. 

Word  was  sent  to  those  in  the  tort,  that,  if  they  did 
not  leave  it,  the  cannon  would  be  fired  and  no  one 
spared.  The  Indians  replied  the  fire  nnghl  hc^gin,  and 
they  did  not  iipar  death.  They  were  restrained  by  tlie 
fear  of  falling  into  the  han«ls  of  Perrier's  Indians,  if 
they  went  out  in  small  parties,  or  of  being  discovered 
by  the  French,  if  they  went  out  together. 

The  cannonade  now  began :  a  heavy  rain  was  fal- 
ling, and  it  blew  very  hard.  The  besieged  fl  ittered 
themselves  with  the  idea  the  inclemency  of  the  wea- 
ther would  prevent  the  passes  being  strictly  guarded; 
they  were  not  deceived.  At  dusk,  the  cannon  was 
stopped :  towards  eight  at  night,  an  officer  reported 
that  the  enemy  was  flying;  the  cannonade  was  now  re- 
sumed, but  it  was  too  late — a  part  oi  the  arm}  went 
after  the  toe  and  brought  in  upwards  of  one  hundred ; 
Perrier  vainly  tried  to  induce  his  Indians  to  give  the 
chase,  they  answered  tliose  should  do  so,  who  had 
suffered  the  Natchez  to  escape.     The  fort  was  now 


1732  J 


THE  ELEVENTH. 


iti 


entered   and  no  one  found  in  it   but  a  decrepit  old 
man,  and  a  woman  who  had  just  hiin  in. 

There  remaining  now  no  enemy  to  fight,  the  pri- 
soners to  the  number  of  (bur  hundred  and  twenty-se- 
ven, were  secured  and  embarked.  Tlie  army  sat  off* 
on  the  twenty-seventh  and  readied  New  Orleans  on 
the  fiflh  of  February. 

The  Great  vSun,  and  the  other  pri:^oner3  were  sent 
immediately  to  Hispanolia,  where  they  were  sold  as 
slaves. 

The  war  was  not,  however,  at  an  end.  Lesueur  had 
ascertained  that  the  Natchez  were  not  all  in  the  fort 
Perries  had  besieged.  They  had  yet  upwards  of 
two  hundred  warriors,  including  the  Yazous  and  Co- 
roas,  and  an  equal  number  of  young  lads  capable  of 
bearing  arms.  A  chief  had  lately  gone  to  the  Chick- 
asaws  witli  forty  warriors  and  many  women :  another 
was  with  seventy  warriors,  and  upwards  of  one  hun- 
dred women  and  many  children  on  lake  Catahoulou, 
to  the  westward  of  Black  river.  There  were  twenty 
warriors,  ten  women  and  six  children  on  the  Washi- 
ta :  the  strength  of  the  party  who  had  gone  towards 
the  Natchitoches  was  not  known. 

In  the  mean  while,  the  company  finding  tbemselves 
much  diappoinled  in  the  hope  they  had  entertained 
of  the  profits  of  their  commerce,  and  the  advantages 
they  had  imagined  would  result  from  their  charter; 
alarmed  at  the  great  loss  they  had  sustained  at  the 
Natchez,  and  the  great  expense  necessary  to  be  in- 
curred in  the  protection  and  defence  of  the  province, 
if  they  retained  the  possessioti  of  it,  solicited  on  the 
twenty-second  of  January,  1732,  the  king's  leave  to 
iurrender  the  country  and  their  charter.  By  an  arrest 
of  the  council  of  the  following  day,  and  letters  patent, 
which  issued  thereon,  on  the  tenth  of  April,  the  retro- 
ression  mwde  by  tlie  company  of  the   property,  lord: 


f 


h 


W 


i 


^bb 


CHAPTKR 


[\r3i 


ship  and  jurisdiction  olHio  province  of  Louisiana  and 
its  d<^p(Mi(l(Mic'irs.  toj^rlhtM'wilh  (lio  roiintr)^^  ol'tlit  Il- 
linois, and  ihecxclusivecomnuMceto  those  places,  v  is 
accepted. 

The  arrest  declares  the  commerce  of'the  ret  receded 
countries  tree,  for  the  future,  t(»  all  the  kin«;'s  suhjects. 

Thus  Glided  the  j^overnment  ofthe  western  compa- 
ny. It  lasteil  during  ahoul  t'ourtem  years — nesniy 
one  halt'ot"  the  tune  elapsed  since  Iberville  had  laid 
the  foundation  of  a  French  colony  on  the  gulf  ofMex- 
ico. 

When  the  company  received  its  charter,  tin  settle- 
ments it)  the  wide  extended  country  ceded  to  it.  were 
confined  to  a  very  narrow  space  at  the  Biloxi,  Mobile 
river,  Ship  and  Dauphine  islands.  '1  wo  very  small 
fortifications  had  been  erected  on  the  Mississippi — 
the  one  near  the  sea,  the  other  at  the  Natchez,  and 
one  at  the  Natchitoches  on  Hed  river. 

Agriculture  had  hardly  reared  its  head,  though  rice 
was  sewed  in  the  swamps.  Horticulture  supplied  the 
tables  of  a  few  with  vegetables,  and  enabled  some  of 
the  rest  to  procure  a  little  money  by  supplying  the 
Spaniards  at  Pensacola. 

Now  all  the  original  settlements  had  considerably 
extended  their  limits,  a  new  one  had  been  formed  at 
the  Alibamons.  On  the  Mississippi^  the  foundation  oi 
New  Orleans  was  laid  :  although  there  was  no  planta- 
tion below  it,  a  considerable  one  with  a  gang  of  up- 
wards of  one  hundred  slaves  had  been  formed  oppo- 
site the  city,  and  there  were  many  smaller  but  still  con. 
siderable  ones  at  Tchapitoulas  and  Cannes  brulees. 
A  vast  immber  of  handsome  cottages,  lined  both  sides 
of  the  river  at  the  German  Coast;  grantees  of  wide 
tracts  had  transported  a  white  population,  and  sent 
negioesto  Manshac,  Baton  Rouge  and  Pointe  Coupee, 
i^nd  we  have  seen   a  smart  settlement  had  risen  at 


inat 


[132] 


THE  Ei.EVKNTir 


281) 


Natchoz.  iho  rival  of  Now  OvU 


n 


laUMoz.  ino  rival  ol  >p\v  uricans.  Higher  up,  sma 
I'.olonirs  liacl  ^onc  to  the  Va/ous  afid  Arkansas;  while 
olliors  liad  (Irscriidcd  from  Canada  to  the  Wabash 
and  (he  llHnois. 

To  the  cnlliire  of  rice,  that  of  indigo  and  tobacco 
had  been  aihled  ;  the  forests  yielded  limber  lor  vari- 
ous uses  and  exportation  ;  wheat  and  llour  came  alrea- 
dy down  from  the  Illinois;  a  smart  trade  was  carried 
on  with  the  Indians  at  Natehitoches,  Mobile,  Aliba- 
mons  and  the  Cadadocpiious,  far  beyond  the  western- 
most limits  of  the  present  state.  Provision  had  been 
made  for  the  regular  adminisl ration  ofjustice;  church- 
es and  chapels  had  been  built  at  convenient  distan- 
ces, and  without  perhaps  any  exception,  every  settle- 
ment had  its  clergyman,  under  the  superintendence 
of  a  vicar-general  of  the  bishopof  Quebec,  of  whose 
diocese  Louisiana  made  a  p.irt.  A  c<»nkent  had  been 
built,  the  nuns  of  which  attended  to  the  rebel  of  the 
sick  of  the  garrison,  and  to  the  education  of  the  young 
persons  of  their  sex.  The  Jesuits  had  a  house  in  New 
Orleans;  a  kind  of  entrepot  of  their  order,  from  which 
their  priests  were  located  among  the  neighbou  ing 
tribes  of  Indians,  or  sent,  as  occasional  emissaries,  to 
the  most  distant;  and  those  men  attended  to  the  edu- 
cation of  youth. 

The  monopoly  which  the  company  and  Crozat  had 
enjoyed  and  strictly  enforced,  had  checked,  and  it 
may  be  said  destroyed,  the  incipient  trade  the  colony 
had  before  the  peace  of  Utrecht;  but  the  produce  of 
the  tilled  land  and  the  forest,  the  hides,  skins,  furs 
and  peltries,  which  were  obtained  from  the  Indians, 
for  goods,  which  were  easily  procured  in  the  company 
warehouses  at  the  Biloxi,  New  Orleans,  the  Natchez 
and  the  Illinois,  and  which  were  disposed  of  at  an 
enormous  advance,  enabled  the  company  to  dispose 
of  considerable  quantities  of  merchandize. 

Lov.  r.  37 


1 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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2.2 


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6"     

► 

Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  M580 

(716)  872-4503 


4^ 


A^ 


■^^""^i     MP. 


:9o 


CHAPTEll 


|173'r 


■  wl 


The  sums,  spent  by  the  company  in  the  colony,  sut- 
ficed  to  fiiniish  the  inhabitants  with  a  circulating 
medium.  It  had  a  commandant  sjeneral,  two  king's 
lieutenants,  a  commissary  ordonnateur,  six  hundred 
and  fifty  men  of  French,  and  two  hundred  of  Swiss 
troops,  in  its  pay.  Besides  a  number  of  directors, 
agents  and  clerks,  it  supported  upwards  of  thirty 
clergymen. 

According  to  the  system  of  all  commercial  compa- 
nies, the  supreme  authority  in  the  province  resided 
in  the  directors  and  agents  of  the  corporation ; 
and  the  mihtary,  incessantly  controlled  by  men 
whose  pursuit  was  wealth,  not  glory,  lost  their  activi- 
ty and  zeal.  A  conflict  of  powers  necessarily  crea- 
ted dissentions  and  animosities,  latal  to  the  interest 
of  the  company  and  the  province. 

It  cannot,  however,  be  denied,  that  while  Louisiana 
was  part  of  the  dominions  of  France,  it  never  pros- 
pered, but  during  the  fourteen  years  of  the  compa- 
ny's privilege. 

The  white  population  was  raised  from  seven  hun- 
dred to  upwards  of  five  thousand,  and  the  black 
from  twenty  to  two  thousand. 


Charlevoix. -^Laharpe. — Vergennes. — Dupratz. 
JMtres  cd  I /{antes. 


-ArcJdves. 


I'v 


■4 


I  T32j 


rUE  TWELFTH 


tiou 
gia 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Salmon  taken  possession  of  the  province  for  the   king. 

Property  ofthn  compnmj  purchased.— Redcmpiioners  and 
muskets. — Superior  council  re-organized. — The  JVatchez 
re  ryrulsed  at  JVatchitoches. — JVegro  plot. — Excmp- 
on  from  duties. —  Military  peace  establishment. — Geor- 
gia settled. —  War  in  Europe. — Bienville  re-appointed 
governor. —  Troops. — Furloughs  and  grants  of  land. — 
Scarcity  of  provisions. — Card  money. — Irruption  of  the 
.JVatchez. — Bienville  prepares  to  inarch  against  them. — 
Conspiracy  among  the  soldiers  at  Tombeckbee. — Bien- 
vHle''s  unsuccessful  attack  on  a  fort  of  the  L  hiclcasaivs. — 
The  Chevalier  d''Jirtaguette. — Sprmish  hostilities  against 
the  British  in  the  West  Indies. — The  French  cabinet  ap- 
proves the  plan  of  a  new  expedition  against  the  Chicka- 
saws. — Peace  in  Europe. — The  garrison  of  St.  ,/lugus' 
tine  reinforced. — Bienville  at  thehead  of  the  colonialforce 
ascends  the  Mississippi. — Detaf'hments  from  Canada 
and  the  Illinois. — Injudicious  delay. — Disease. — Fam- 
ine.— Celeron  marches  against  the  westernmost  fort  of 
the  Chickasaws. —  They  sue  for  peace. Bienville  des- 
troys his  forts  and  the  army  returns. — Death  of  Charles 
VI. — Maria  Theresa. —  War  in  Europe. 

SALMON,  who  on  the  death  of  Lachaise,  had  suc- 
ceeded him  in  the  office  of  Commissary  Ordonna- 
teur,  having  been  appointed  the  king's  commissioner, 
received  possession  of  Louisiana  in  his  name,  from 
the  company. 

The  crown  had  purchased  all  the  property  of  the 
corporation  in  the  province.  It  was  not  considerable, 
and  the  appraised  inventory  of  it.  amounted  only  to 


iij i , 


1  'jc 


<>qi.) 

^m  a  ft* 


CHAPTER 


[l73Si 


two  hundred  and  sixty  tliree  thousand  livres ;  not 
equal  in  vahie  lo  sixty-tliou.sand  dollars.  It  consisted 
of"  some  gooils  in  the  warehouses,  a  plantation  oppo- 
site the  city,  which  was  partly  improved  as  a  brick 
yard,  on  wliich  were  two  hundred  and  sixty  neajroes, 
fourteen  horses  and  eight  thousand  barrels  of  rice.  . 
The  negroes  were  valued  at  an  average  of  seven 
hundred  livres  or  one  hundred  and  sixty  three  dollars 
and  a  third :  the  horses  at  tifty-seven  livres  or 
twelve  and  a  half  dollars,  and  the  rice  three  livres  or 
sixty-six  cents  and  a  third,  the  hundred  weight.  At 
these  prices,  nineteen  hundred  weight  of  rice  were 
given  for  a  horse  ;  at  the  present  value  of  rice,  four 
cents  a  pound,  the  animal  was  worth  seventy-six 
dollars,  and  the  negro  nearly  one  thousand. 

The  company  had  contracted  a  considerable  debt, 
with  the  planters,  and  obtained  on  the  fou-teenth  of 
February,  an  arrest  of  the  king's  council,  inhibiting 
creditors  in  Louisiana  from  suing  in  France.  Brusle 
and  Bru.  two  members  of  the  superior  council,  were 
appointed  commissioners  to  receive  claims  against  it, 
in  the  province. 

In  order  to  facilitate  the  commerce  of  the  colony, 
the  king,  by  an  ordinance  of  the  fourth  of  August,  dis- 
pensed the  vesselsof  his  subjects,  trading  thither,  with 
the  obligation  of  transportin«j;  redemptioners  and  mus- 
kets, which  was  imposed  on  those  trading  to  his  other 
American  colonies. 

The  late  change  in  the  government  of  the  pro- 
vince requiring  one  in  the  organization  otthe  superior 
council,  this  was  effected  by  the  king's  letter  patent 
of  the  seventh  of  Mav.  The  members  of  this  tribu- 
nal  were  declared  to  be  the  Governor  General  of 
ISew-France,  of  which  Louisiana  continued  to  con- 
stitute a  part,  the  Governor  and  the  Commissary  of 
Louisiana,  the  king's  lieutenants  and  the  town  major 


[173i; 

•es ;  not 
oiisistcd 
1   oppo- 
i  H  brick 
ncfijroes, 
it"  rice. 
ji'  seven 
c  dollars 
IV res    or 
livres  or 
rht.      At 
•ice  were 
^ice,  four 
venty-six 

ible  debt, 
teenth  ol 
inhibiting 
Hrusle 
icil,  were 
against  it, 

le  colony, 

ugust,  dis- 

her,  with 

and  mus- 

his  other 

the  pro- 
e  superior 
ter  patent 
his  tribu- 

enrrai  ot 
pd  to  eon- 
missary  ol 
iwn  major 


J7J2] 


THE  TWELFTH. 


'^9;; 


of  New  Orleans,  six  councillors,  an  attorney  gene- 
ral and  clerk. 
Th 


rie  members  of  the  council,  at  this  time,  were  Perri- 
er.  Commandant  Gerieral;  Salmon,Commissary  Ordon- 
nateur ;  Loubois  and  d'Artaguette,  the  king's  two  lieu- 
tenants ;  Benac,  town  major  of  New  Orleans;  Fazende. 
Brusle,  Bru.  Lafreniere,  Prat  and  Raguet,  Council- 
lors ;    Hcuriau,  Attorney  General,  and  Rossart,  clerk. 

The  Natchez  Indians  continued  to  wage  war,  with 
the  western  parts  of  the  province.  The  chief  of  the 
flour,  who  had  effected  his  escape  from  Perrier's 
camp,  on  Black  river,  and  who  had  afterwards  left 
the  fort  with  some  warriors,  their  women  and  child- 
ren, had  been  joined  by  those  whom  he  had  left  there, 
and  had  not  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  French.  Ail 
ter  wandering  a  while  among  the  Washitas,this  party, 
increased  by  other  individuals  of  their  nation,  pro- 
ceeded to  the  Natchitoches.  St.  Denys,  who  com- 
manded there,  having  early  information  of  the  ap- 
proach of  the  Natchez,  and  finding  his  garrison  weak, 
dispatched  messengers  to  New  Orleans,  the  Cadod- 
aquious  and  Assinais,  to  solicit  succour.  According- 
ly Loubois  left  New  Orleans  with  sixty  men  of  the  gar- 
rison ;  but  as  he  entered  Red  river,  accompanied  by 
one  hundred  Indians,  whom  he  had  taken  at  the  Tu- 
nicas, he  was  met  a  little  below  Black  river,  early  in 
November  by  Fontaine,  who  was  sent  by  St.  Denys 
to  Perrier.  From  him,  Loubois  learned  the  Natchez 
had  attacked  the  fort,  being  about  two  hundred ;  but 
they  had  been  repulsed. 

The  Natchitoches  had  made  a  show  of  resistance ; 
but  having  but  forty  warriors,  they  had  been  compel- 
led to  desist,  after  having  lost  four  men.  The  Natch- 
ez took  possession  of  their  village :  St.  Denys  had 
been  reinforced  by  his  allies,  on  Red  river  and  the 
Opelousas.     With  his  garrison,  a  few  Spainards  and 


.»( 


'VJ'l 


CHAPTER 


\n6i: 


II 


these  Tihlians,  he  sfillied  out,  forced  an  intrenchment, 
Uie  Natchez  hiuJ  made  around  their  camp,  and  killed 
ninety-two  of  them,  among  whom  were  all  their  chiefs. 
The  rest  lied  into  the  woodi,  and  St.  Denys'  Indians 
were  in  pursuit  of  them,  when  Fontaine  left  the  fort. 

\V  ilh  liir  less  means  than  the  commandant  general 
on  Black  river,  St.  Denys  had  effected  in  much  less 
time  a  more  hrilliant  and  useful  exploit.  It  put  an 
end  to  the  war  of"  the  Natchez.  The  survivors  of 
th(^  nation  sought  an  asylum  among  the  Chickasaws, 
with  whom  they  became  incorporated.  These  In- 
dians had  hitherto  pretended  to  remain  neutral  ;  but 
now  excited  by  a  number  of  English  traders,  who 
had  settled  among  them,  avowed  themselves  the  open 
enemies  of  the  Fref»ch. 

There  were  at  the  Natchez,  on  the  plantations  of 
the  French,  a  considerable  number  of  negroes;  near- 
ly all  of  whom  had  joined  the  murderers  of  their  mas- 
ters, in  order  to  gain  their  freedom,  and  had  follow- 
ed their  new  friends  among  the  Chickasaws.  This 
circumstance,  and  their  consequent  emancipation, 
was  known  to  their  former  companions,  who  had  been 
recaptured  or  surrendered,  and  presented  to  them 
the  evidence  of  the  possibility  of  their  own  release 
from  bondage;  they  became  restless,  indocile,  and 
fit  subjects  to  be  wrought  upon,  by  persuasion. 
In  the  hope  of  exciting,  through  them,  the  other  slaves 
in  the  colony,  to  finish  the  work  begun  at  the  Natchez, 
several  of  the  most  artful  negroes,  among  the  Chicka- 
saws, were  sent  to  Mobile,  New  Orleans  and  along 
the  coast,  to  sow  the  seeds  of  rebellion  among  the  peo- 
ple of  their  colour,  in  those  places.  These  emissa- 
ries, being  unable  to  shew  themselves  opeidy,  had  no 
success  on  the  plantations,  where  the  gangs  being 
small,  the  slaves  wer^  fearful.  It  w  as  in  vain  urged 
upon  them,  the  moment  was  arrived  to  rid  themselves; 


1173!;: 

hment, 

I  killed 

chiefs. 

Indians 

Q  I'olt. 

general 
jch  less 
put  an 
vors  ol 
kasaws, 
lese  In- 
al  ;  but 
rs,  who 
he  open 

aliens  ol" 
»s;  near- 
leir  mas- 
d  follow- 
s.     This 
cipation, 
ad  been 
to  them 
1  release 
cile,  and 
rsuasion. 
er  slaves 
atchez, 
Chicka- 
id  along 
the  peo- 
emissa- 
,  had  no 
gs  being 
in  urged 
lemselves 


1732] 


THE  TWELFTH. 


S90 


of  their  masters,  and  secure  their  own  freedom,  by 
removing  to  the  Chickasaws,  or  the  English  in 
Carolina. 

On  the  plantation  opposite  the  city,  lately  tlie 
property  of  the  company,  but  now  of  tfie  king,  there 
were  upwards  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  hands.  Seve- 
ral of  these  were  seduced,  and  the  contagion  spread 
with  considerable  rapidity  up  the  coast,  where  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  city,  there  were  some  estates  with  gangs 
of  from  thirty  to  forty  slaves. 

Meetings  were  held  without  the  notice  of  the 
French;  the  blacks  improving  the  opportunity,  unsus- 
pectingly furnished  them  by  their  owners,  to  assemble 
in  nightly  parties  for  dancing  and  recreation. 

At  last,  a  night  was  fixed  on,  in  which,  on  pretexts 
hke  these,  the  blacks  of  the  upper  plantations  were 
to  collect  on  those  near  the  city,  at  one  time,  but  on 
various  points,  and  entering  it  from  all  sides,  they 
were  to  destroy  all  white  men,  and  securing  and  con- 
fining the  women  and  children  in  the  church,  expect- 
ing to  possess  themselves  of  the  king's  arms  and  maga- 
zine, and  thus  have  the  means  of  resisting  the  plajiters 
when  they  came  down,  and  carrying  on  conflagration 
and  slaughter,  on  the  coast.     They  hoped  to  induce 
or  compel,  by  a  shew  of  strength,  the  timorous  of  their 
colour,  who  had  resisted  the  temptation  to  swell  their 
number,  and  with  them  join  parties  oi  the  Chicka- 
saws, who  they  were   assured  w  ould  advance  to  re- 
ceive and  protect  them.     Fortunately,  the  motions  of 
an  incautious  fellow  were  noticed  by  a  negro  woman, 
belonging  to  a  Dr.  Brasset;  she  gave  such  information 
to  her  master   as   led  to  the  discovery  of  the  plot. 
Four  men   and  a  woman,  who  were   the  principal 
agents  in  it,  were  detected  and  seized.      The  men 
were  broken  on  the  wheel  and  their  heads  stuck  on 
posts,  at  the  upper  and  lower  end  of  the  city,  the 


1:   '■■:■ 


f'''?il 


l4 


390 


CHAPTER 


[nae 


m 


mi 


Tchapitoulas  and  the  king's  plantation:  the  woman 
was  liung.  This  timely  severity  prevented  the  mis- 
chief. 

The  king  extended  further  encouragement  to  the 
trade  of  the  province,  by  an  arrest  of  his  council  of 
the  thirteenth  of  September,  exempting  frouj  all  duties 
of  exportation,  all  merchandise,  shipped  by  his  sub- 
jects to  Louisiana,  and  all  duties  of  importation  the 
merchandise  of  its  growth,  produce  or  commerce. 

Shortly  alter,  provision  was  made  for  its  protection 
and  defence,  and  an  arrest  of  the  thirtieth  of  Novem- 
ber ordered  a  military  force  to  be  kept  theie,  consist- 
ing of  eight  hundred  men  ;  six  hundred  and  fifty  of 
whom  were  to  be  detached  from  the  regiment  of 
Karrer. 

The  year  1732  is  remarkable  as  the  period  of  the 
settlement  of  the  last  of  the  British  provinces  in  Ameri- 
ca, which  now  constitute  the  United  States.  Charity 
devised  the  plan  and  furnished  the  means  for  its  exe- 
cution. A  society,  formed  in  London,  selected  a 
large  unoccupied  tract  of  land  between  the  rivers  Sa- 
vannah and  Alatamaha,  a  kind  of  neutral  ground, 
which  separated  the  provinces  of  South  Carolina  and 
Florida,  as  a  spot  on  which  the  suffering  poor  might 
find  an  easy  and  quiet  existence. 

The  abolition  of  the  company's  exclusive  right  to 
the  trade  of  Louisiana,  and  ihe  encouragement  lately 
given  to  its  commerce,  excited  the  industry  of  the  mer- 
chants in  several  of  the  sea  ports  of  France  and  her 
colonies ;  and  several  vessels  from  St.  Maloes,  Bor- 
deaux, Marseilles  and  Cape  Francois,  came  to  New 
Orleans,  in  the  course  ot  the  follovvi.*g  year. 

The  death  of  Augustus,  kirig  of  Poland,  in  1733,  for 
a  while  disturoed  the  tranquillity  of  Europe.  Louis 
XV.  supported  the  claim  to  the  crown  of  Stanislaus, 
whose  daughter  he  had  married  in  i725,  and  was  as- 


1734  J 


THE  TWELFTH. 


2dl 


•iistod  by  Spain,  but  was  opposed  by  tho  emperor, 
who  upheld  the  pretensions  of  the  elector  of  .Saxony. 

l>ien\  ille  was  this  year  re-appointed  <^overnor  of 
Louisiana.  He  did  not  however  reach  the  province 
until  I  Ik-  following  year.  The  colonists  hailed  the  re- 
turn ot  their  former  chief,  who  had  devoted  the  prime 
of  his  life  to  the  service  of  their  country.  Perrier,  on 
his  arrival,  retur-ied  to  France. 

A  frigate  brought  troops  to  complete  the  peace  es- 
tablishment of  the  province,  according  to  the  arrest 
of  the  king's  council  of  the  month  of  November. 

For  the  tlouble  purpose  of  promoting  the  king's 
service,  and  the  extension  of  agriculture  in  Louisiana, 
itwas  provided  by  an  arrest  ofthe  king's  council  of  the 
month  of  August  1731,  that  there  should  be  armually 
granted  to  two  soldiers,  in  each  ofthe  companies  of 
French  troops  ser\  ing  there,  a  furlough  and  a  tract  of 
land,  subject  to  a  yearly  quit  rent  of  a  sous  for  every 
four  acres.  It  was  stipulated  that  the  grantees  should, 
within  tliree  years,  clear  such  a  part  of  the  land  as 
the  governor  should  designate,  and  during  that  peri- 
od, their  pay  and  rations  were  continued  to  them. 

The  Swiss  soldiers  were  likewise  entitled  to  such 
a  grant,  at  the  expiration  of  the  time  for  which  they 
had  been  enlisted. 

We  have  seen  the  king  kept  six  hundred  and  fifty 
soldiers  in  the  province.  They  were  divided  into  tliir- 
teen  companies  of  fifty  men  each,  which  gave  annual- 
ly twenty-six  new  farmers.  The  Swiss  ^mpanies 
gave  four,  in  the  same  period. 

In  the  French  troops,  the  selection  was  made  by 
the  governor,  from  the  soldiers  who  conducted  them- 
selves the  best.  This  proved  a  valuable  measure, 
promoting  good  order  among  the  men,  and  extending 
agriculture.  Those,  who  thus  quitted  the  sword  for 
the  plough,  became  in  time  the  heads  of  orderly  fami- 

r.oTi.  I.  38 


•■*,       ' 


jl. 

4 

t;   ' 

»! 

J 

r 

1 

' 

■ 
i 

1 

'• 

39B 


CHAPTER 


|l 


!,■>.> 


lies,  and  muny  of  their  rernolo  (lesccMidanl^  are  now 
persons  oCueiiUli  and  r(?spe(;tal)ility. 

The  Trenc^h  and  Spanish  arms  had  iliis  year  <;jreat 
suecPsH  in  Italy;  Don  Carlos,  the  youn<;e«t  son  oi  Phi- 
lip the  fifth,  who  afterwards  wasf'harles  the  third  of 
Spain,  entered  the  kingdom  of  Naples,  at  ihe  head  of 
thirty  thonsand  men,  and  made  himself  master  of  it. 

Althoufjjh  lar<^e  (juantities  of  eoin  were  anrnially 
sent  over  fop  the  pay  and  maintenanee  of  the;  troops, 
and  the  expenses  of  the  colonial  government,  the 
means  of  remittance  which  at^riculture  supplied  hcing 
comparatively  (lew  and  small,  the  merchants  hoarded 
up  for  exportation  all  the  coin  they  received.  The 
province  found  itself  drained  of  its  circulating  medi- 
um, to  the  great  injury  of  its  agricultuie  and  internal 
trade. 

By  an  edict  of  the  king,  which  hears  date  the  nine- 
teenth of  Septemher,  17:}.'3,  an  emission  of  card  mo- 
ney to  the  amount  of  two  hundred  thousand  livres,  a 
little  m  )re  than  forty  thousand  dollars,  was  ordered  to 
be  struck,  and  declared  receivable  in  the  king's  ware- 
houses for  ammunition  or  any  thing  sold  there,  or  in 
exchange,  annually,  for  drafts  on  the  treasury  of  the 
marine  in  France. 

This  measure  had  been  solicited  by  the  colonists ; 
cards  were  accordingly  struck  of  the  value  of  twenty, 
fifteen,  ten  and  five  livres;  fifty,  twenty-five,  twelve 
and  a  half,  and  six  and  a  quarter  sous — answering  to 
the  emissions  of  the  British  provinces  of  four,  three, 
two  and  one  dollar,  halves,  quarters  and  eighths  of  a 
dollar. 

They  bore  the  king's  arms,  and  were  all  signed  by 
the  comptroller  of  the  marine,  at  NewOrleans.  Those 
of  fifty  sous  and  more  were  also  signed  by  the  gover- 
nor and  ordonnateur — the  others  had  the  paruphe  oi' 
nourish  of  these  two  officers  only. 


;iro  now 

cur  <jjrrfit 
:)ii  ot'Mlii- 
('  1  III  id  of 
c  head  of 
LMolit. 

annnallj 
ic  troops, 
nont,  the 
ied  being 

lioardod 
k1.  The 
ng  inedi- 
1  interiial 

the  nine- 
card  mo- 
hvres,  a 
rdered  to 
ig's  vvare- 
ere,  or  in 
iry  of  the 

olonists; 
)f  twenty, 
^,  twelve 
kvering  to 
ur,  three, 
hths  of  a 

signed  by 
s.  Those 
le  gover- 
iraphe  oi 


1 7.151 


THE  TWELFTH 


«00 


The  cards  were  declared  a  tender  in  all  payments 
whatever. 

The  Natchez  and  Yazoiis,  w  ho  had  tbund  refug* 
among  the  (>hi(!kasaws,  now  resumed  their  predato- 
ry war,  on  the  distant  settlements  of  the  colony,  and 
greatly  obstructed  its  communication  hy  the  Missis- 
sippi, to  the  Illinois,  the  Wabash  and  Canada.  A  num- 
ber of  Chickasaws  generally  accompanied  these  ma- 
rauding parties.  As  the  province  could  enjoy  no  tran- 
quillity while  such  outrages  were  not  suppressed,  Bi- 
envilh?  sent  an  otlicer,  to  the  principal  village  of  tfie 
Chickasaws  to  insist  on  the  surrender  of  the  Natchez. 
He  was  informed  these  Indians  could  not  be  given  up, 
as  they  had  been  received  by,  and  incorporated  with, 
the  Chickasaw  nation.  He  determined  to  go  and 
take  them,  and  ordered  immediate  preparations  lor 
an  expedition. 

For  this  purpose,  he  directed  the  Chevalier  d'Ar- 
taguette,  who  was  now  in  command  at  Fort  Chartres 
of  the  Illinois,  to  collect  as  many  French  and  Indians 
as  he  could,  and  march  them  down  to  the  country  of 
the  Chickasaws,  in  order  to  join  the  troops  from  New 
Orleans  and  Mobile,  about  the  tenth  of  May. 

Leblanc,  who  was  the  bearer  of  these  orders  to  the 
chevalier,  was  sent  up  with  five  boats  laden  wilh  pro- 
visions and  ammunition  for  Fort  Chartres.  He  suc- 
cesstully  resisted  the  attack  of  a  party  of  the  enemy 
near  the  Yazou  river.  He  reached  that  of  the  Ar- 
kansas, where  he  landed  part  of  the  loading  of  his 
boats,  which  had  been  too  heavily  laden.  On  his 
reaching  Fort  Chartres,  one  of  the  boats  was  sent  for 
the  provisions  left  at  the  Arkansas ;  but  the  Indians, 
who  had  attacked  him  on  his  way  up,  fell  on  this  boat 
and  killed  every  man  on  board,  except  a  lieutenant 
called  Dutisne,  who  commanded  the  party,  and  a  half 
breed  of  the  name  of  Rosaly. 


1 1 


If] 


.JUU 


CIIAPTKR 


17,nr, 


Ill  the  meanvvhilp,  anotlier  ort'icer  had  pfono  amoni; 
the  Choclavvs,  lor  the  purpose  of  in(liicin}j;  some  ol 
the  cliiefs,   in  the  sevenil  villages  of  that  nation,  to 


meet  f^ienville  at  F^ort  Coiide. 


At  this  nieetinj:;,  the  Frcucli  rhief  purchased  the 
aid  of  his  red  alhes,  for  a  <jiiaiitily  ofj^oods,  a  part  of 
which  lie  hrou^ht  from  New  Orleaiis  and  now  deliver- 
ed to  them.  The  Choctaw  chiefs  enj^a^cd  to  colled 
the  warrioi's  of  their  nation  and  hring  Ihem  to  the 
standard  of  the  FVencli ;  and  I'ienville  returned  to 
New  Orleans  to  hasten  the  march  of  the  force  he  had 
directed  to  be  assend>led. 

A  sufficient  number  of  the  militia  was  left  in  the 
forts,  and  two  companies  marched  with  the  rec^ulars 
and  some  negroes,  whom  it  was  not  thought  impru- 
dent to  trust  with  arms.  This  force  was  embarked 
on  the  bajDU  St.  John  in  thirty  boats,  and  as  many 
h\rge  pirogues.  Bienville  reached  Fort  Conde  with 
it  on  the  tenth  of  March. 

He  had  belbre  sent  a  strong  detachment,  under 
the  orders  of  Lusser,  to  throw  up  a  small  work  on 
the  bank  of  tlie  river,  at  the  distance  of  two  hundred 
and  fifty  miles  above  Fort  Conde,  and  on  the  same 
side  of  the  stream,  in  order  to  have  a  safe  place  of  de- 
posit for  the  provisions,  arms  and  ammunition  that 
had  been  sent  up  for  the  use  of  the  Choctaws.  Here 
some  ofLusser'^s  men,  instigated  by  a  sergeant  of  the 
name  of  Mont  fort  formed  the  design  of  availing  them- 
selves of  the  facility,  presented  by  theirgreat  distance 
from  the  settlements  of  the  French,  to  release  them- 
selves from  subjection,  by  murdering  their  officers, 
and  seeking  retiige  among  the  Chickasaws,  whom 
they  were  sent  to  combat,  or  among  the  English  in 
Carolina,  through  the  desert.  The  plot  was  luckily 
discovered,  at  the  moment  on  which  it  was  to  have, 
been   executed.     The  sergeant  and  five  men  were 


. 


I 


LH.V, 


rt36] 


THE   rVVKLiTH. 


:i01 


no  amonij; 

soino  ol 

mtion,  lo 

uisrd  \\iv 
,  a  p:irt  o( 
V  (Irlivcr- 
to  rolU'd 
cm  to  ihr 
'turned  to 
ce  he  had 

oft  in  tho 
Q  iTCjulars 
rhi  iinpru- 
rm  barked 
1  as  many 
jude   with 

?nt,  under 

I  work  on 

)  hundred 

the  same 

lace  oi'de- 

ition  that 

fcws.  Here 

ant  of  the 

ing  them- 

distancp 
ase  them- 

ofFicers, 
vs,  whom 

nglish  in 
as  luckily 
LS  to  have 
[Tien  were 


I 


arrested,  hut  f  Jipser  postponed  their  trial  till  the  arri- 
val of  his  (thief. 

TIk-  army  hiid  h'ft  Fort  Conde  on  the  fourth  of 
April.  ;uid  reached  Tomheckhee  on  the  twentieth:  a 
C(  urt  martial  immediately  sat  on  th«'  |)risoners,  and 
they  were  shot.  A  few  days  aller,  the  Choctaws,  who 
h;  «l  heen  eii«»;;iged  as  auxiliaries,  joined  Hienvill(\ 
and  liedcjivered  to  them  the  balance  of  the  j^oods  he 
had  promised. 

Incessant  rains  and  inclement  weather  prevented 
the  army  from  leavinir  Tomheckhee  before  the  fourth 
ol  May,  and  thice  weeks  elapsed  belore  it  reached  the 
spot  on  which  it  was  intended  to  land.  Some  time  w  as 
now  spent  in  erecting  a  shed  for  the  re(:eption  and 
protection  of  a  part  of  the  provisions  and  Marlike 
stores,  and  a  few  huts  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
sick.  Here  another  party  of  the  Choctaws  joined  the 
army  :  the  immber  ol  these  a?ixiliaries  was  now  twelve 
hundred. 

The  nearest  village  of  the  Chickasaws  was  at  the 
distance  of  twenty-seven  miles  to  the  north  east.  A 
sulficient  force  being  left  to  protect  the  sick  and  stores, 
the  army  marched,  in  tw  ocolumns,  onthetwenty-lifth: 
the  Choctaws  w  ere  on  the  Hanks.  A  halt  was  made 
for  the  night  at  the  distance  of  seventeen  miles ;  at  day 
break,  the  troops  started  in  perfect  order  and  silence 
and  came  in  sight  of  the  village  towards  noon:  a 
strong  fort  had  been  erected  before  it.  7'he  Choc- 
taws yelling  ran  forward,  in  the  hope  of  surprising 
some  of  the  Chickasaws,  but  without  success. 

Bienville,  at  half  past  one,  formed  his  army  into  a 
regular  square :  as  it  approached  the  fort  in  this 
order,  he  ordered  it  to  halt,  and  directed  the  major 
part  of  the  regulars  and  militia  to  form  strong  detach- 
ments and  march  to  the  attack.  The  British  flag  was 
flyingover  the  fort,  and  a  few  Individuals  of  thatnation 


.iOl' 


CHAPTER 


L1736 


II 


were  perceived  in  it.  Fire  hail  been  set  to  a  few  ca- 
bins near  the  fort,  from  whicli  the  Frencli  might  be 
annoyed  ;  they  advanced  ten  deep,  shouting  vice  /  /  r/y, 
but  were  much  distressed  by  the  smt)ke  from  the  ca- 
bins, which  the  wind  blew  in  their  face^.  T'  e  fort 
now  began  a  galling  fire ;  a  lieutenant,  a  sergeant  and 
two  men  were  killed,  and  Renaud  d'Auterive,  an  oili- 
cer  of  the  militia,  was  severely  wounded.  The  Chuk- 
asaws  were  In  a  strong  fort,  surrounded  uiih  a  '  i:  k 
palissado  full  of  loop  holes,  from  which  they  poured 
forth  an  incessant  shower  of  balls;  strong  and  tliick 
planks,  covered  with  earth,  ibrmed  over  the  palissa- 
do, a  covering  impenetrable  to  the  grenade.  The 
French  were  unprotected  and  fell  back.  I'liey  roon 
advanced  again  ;  but  the  fire  from  the  fort  made  a 
great  havock,  while  thoy  tired  in  vain  against  the  pvd- 
issado.  At  five  o'clock,  Bienville  seeing  Noy;i  it, 
Lusser.  Jussau,  and  Girondel,four  of  his  best  oflicefs, 
and  many  others  disabled,  and  the  ammurntion  of  his 
men  nearly  exhausted,  without  the  hope  of  success, 
ordered  a  retreat,  and  sent  a  strong  detachment  to 
support  it.  Jt  was  made  in  good  order.  1  he  loss 
was  thirty-two  killed  and  sixty-one  wounded.  The 
force  employed  joined  the  rest,  without  being  able  to 
bring  away  the  bodies  of  their  dead. 

The  evening  was  employed  in  throwing  up  a  small 
entrenchment  around  the  camp.  In  the  morning,  the 
French  saw  the  bodies  of  their  countrymen,  who  fell 
in  the  battle,  cut  into  quarters  and  stuck  up  on  the 
pickets  of  the  palissado  around  the  fort. 

During  this  day,  the  Choctaws  had  several  skirmish- 
es with  the  Chickasaws. 

On  the  twenty-ninth,  the  army  began  to  retrogade, 
and  encamped  within  three  miles  only  of  the  field  of 
battle,  an'd  on  the  next  day,  within  the  same  distance 
from  tbeir  place  of  landing,  which  they  reached  on 


f!. 


[1736 

a  few  ca- 
mig'il  be 
ncc  I  roij^ 
)  I  lie  ca- 
T>  e  iort 
earit  ai'.d 
e,  an  olli- 
leCli'tk- 
ha   'ik 
y  poured 
M\i\  tliiek 
o  palissa- 
Je.     The 
'hey  :>oon 
t  ina<le  a 
st  ihe  pal- 
/  Noy.j.it, 
st  oHic<':s, 
tioii  ot"  ills 
jt"  success, 
chment  to 

']  he  loss 
ed.     The 

ig  able  to 

ip  a  small 
riling,  the 
,  who  fell 
up  on  the 

iskirmish- 

[etrogade, 
he  field  of 
distance 
lached  on 


173bJ 


THE  TWELFTH 


303 


m 


the  third  day.  Bienville,  distributing  the  remainder 
of  his  goods  among  the  Choctaws,disiriissed  them  sa- 
tisfied. Taking  in  the  suite  of  the  army  the  invalids 
he  had  left  Oii  the  river,  he  (loated  tlown  to  Fort  Con- 
de,  vvliere  he  loft  a  reinforcernoiit  in  the  garrison,  and 
landed  the  rest  of  liis  men  on  the  banks  of  the  bayou 
St.  John,  in  the  latter  part  of  June. 

A  sergeant  of  the  garrison  of  the  Illinois,  who  had 
be^!i  made  a  prisoner  by  iheChickasaws,  succeeded 
so  fir  in  securing  the  good  will  of  the  Indian  to  whose 
lot  he  had  (alien,  as  to  obtain  his  liberty  and  a  suffi- 
ciency of  provisions,  to  enable  him  to  reach  the  set- 
tlements of  the  French.  He  came  to  INew  Orleans  on 
the  first  day  of  July.  Bienville  learned  from  him  the 
unfortunate  fate  of  the  Chevalier  d'Artaguette. 

This  officer   was   the  youngest  son  of  the  com- 
missary ordonnateur  of  that  name.     He  had  served 
with  distinction  during  the  war  of  the  Natchez,  and 
had  been  left  by  Perrier  to  command  the  fort  which 
this  chiof  had  directed  to  be  built  near  the  site  of  the 
pi-f'sent  city  of  Natchez.     In  compliance  with  the  or- 
ders, wliich  Leblanc  had  brought  him  from  Bienville, 
he  had  left  his  command  at  FortChartres,  with  twelve 
hundred  men,  chieily  Indians.     Warned  by  the  fate 
of  Lesueur,  who  having*  brought  a  body  of  Choctaws 
near  the  fort  of  tlie  Natchez,  had  been  unable  to  con- 
tain them,  till  the  arrival  of  the  Chevalier  de  Loubois; 
d'Artaguette,  by  occasionally  slacking  his  march,  had 
arrived  at  the  place  of  rendezvous  mentioned  in  his 
orders,  on  the  ninth  of  May;  the  eve  of  the  very  day 
he  was  directed  to  arrive,  five  days  after  Bienville  had 
left  the  small  fort  at  Tombeckbee.    He  had  encamp- 
ed in  sight  of  the  enemy  till  the  twentieth,  in  anxious 
expectation  of  the  arrival  of  Bienville,  who  did  not 
land  until  four  days  after;  when  his  Indians,  like  the 
Choctaws  at  the  Natchez,  grew^  impatient  and  uuma- 


4 


K-fivN 


■  i',    ._ 
.-I  «| 


riU'i 


CHAPTER 


[17ot 


nageable,  and  absolutely  insisted  on  being  allowed  to 
fight  or  to  withdraw.  Incapable  of  restraining  his 
turbulent  allies,  he  had  accepted  the  first  alternative, 
and  successAilly  attacked  the  tort  before  which  he 
had  encamped.  He  drove  the  Chiekasaws  from  it 
and  the  village  it  protected.  In  the  pursuit,  the 
valorous  youth  had  driven  them  to  and  out  of  the 
next  tort,  and  was  chasing  them  to  a  third,  and  per- 
haps their  last,  entrenchment,  when  he  received  a 
wound — then  another,  which  threw  him  on  the  ground 
weltering  in  his  blood.  His  Indians,  on  the  fall  of  their 
leader,  retreated  in  all  directions.  Forty-eight  sol- 
diers, the  whole  of  the  garrison  of  Fort  Chartres, 
which  d'Artaguette  had  been  able  to  bring,  and  Fa- 
ther Senac,  its  chaplain,  stood  by,  and  lor  a  while  de- 
fended their  prostrated  leader.  But,  what  could  the 
deserted  few  do  ?  They  were  overpowered,  and  the 
Indians  led  their  prisoners  to  the  fort  on  which,  had 
late  spared  d'iV.rtaguette  but  a  few  minutes,  he  would 
have  planted  the  white  banner.  His  companions 
w^ashed  and  dressed  his  wounds,  and  his  recover}' 
was  speedy.  For  a  while,  the  Chickasaws  treated 
their  captives  well :  they  knew  Bienville  was  advan- 
cing with  a  strong  force,  and  promised  themselves 
great  advantages  from  the  possession  of  the  French, 
and  at  least  a  large  ransom.  But  the  reports  of  the 
arrival  and  retrogade  of  the  French  army  were  si- 
multaneous, and  the  foe,  elated  by  success  and  se- 
curity, dragged  out  his  unlucky  victims  to  a  neighbour- 
ing field,  bound  the  chevalier  and  the  father  to  the 
same  stake,  and  tying  his  courageous  adherents,  tour 
by  four  around  their  worldly  and  spiritual  leaders, 
extending  protection  to  the  sergeant  only,  consumed 
their  victims,  by  a  slow  and  often  interrupted  fire. 

Vessels  from  France,  St.  Domingo  and  Martinico, 
frequently  came  to  New  Orleans :  and  early  in  the 


17  38] 


TllF,  TWELl'TII. 


:iiju 


next  yonr  tbo  k'mo-  oxIfMidod  a  i'lirllioi'  ciiconnioc. 
nu'iit  (o  \\w  ('on)mci'co  oftho  i»ro\in(U\  hv  pcrmillit!"- 
i'.!  oxporlntioii  oi  any  arlicio  of  its  piodiicc  lo  (he 
\\'<:!st  !  !(lia  isl;ui(!s,  and  tlie  importation  ol"  tliat  of 
thc'hC  islands,  to  Louisiana,  dining  ten  jeai's.  I'lie 
royal  (Mlicl  is  on'cl)ruary,  1737. 

T\\o  Vparsiards  nl  this  tinie  Ix^ojan  lo  makr  t:;r('at 
depredations  on  ti.e  comrnrrfe  ol'GreMt  l>i'it;iM  in 
llie  \\  est  hulia  seas.  'J  lieir  ^narda  costas  sci/cd  a 
liundjcr  ol"  vessels  of  that  n;«lion,  >\h!e!i  ihey  earrit^d 
into  the  ports  of  the  main,  the  island  ol  Cuha  and 
insj)aniola,  lor  eondeinnatioii,  under  the  pietenee 
tlvft  they  were  engajred  in  a  contrahand  trade,  with 
the  colonies  of  v^pain. 

Bienville,  on  his  return  from  the  unsueeessful  ex- 
pe(!i'ion  ai^ainst  the  Chitkasiiws,  planned  a  new  one, 
in  which  he  proposed  to  re;)chtiieir  country,  by  the 
Mississippi.  lie  conununicated  his  ^iews  to  the 
mi  lister,  who  sulnnitted  them  lo  the  chevalier  de 
Beauhansctis  (the  liither  of  the  first  husband  of  iIk^" 
Empress  Josephine)  then  Governor  General  of  New 
France. 

Louis  XV.  was  not  successful,  in  the  war  he  had 
undertaken,  to  place  his  father  in-law,  on  the  throne  of 
Poland.  Tranquillity  was  momentarily  restored  to 
Europe  by  the  peace  of  173{{,  which  left  the  Elector 
of  Saxony  in  possession  of  the  crown,  and  Don  Car- 
los, kinj^  of  Naples.  Stanislaus,  however,  was  per- 
mitted to  retain  the  title  of  king,  and  l>ecaine  Grand 
Dukeof  Lorrain  and  Bar.  While  the  war  that  had 
been  waged  between  the  emperor  and  the  kings  of 
France  and  Spain,  was  thus  brouglit  to  a  close,  the 
latter  sovereign,  began  preparations  lor  hostilities 
against  Great  Britain,  and  the  garrison  of  St.  /Vugus- 
tine    received  a   very   considerabh^    reinlbrcemenl. 


Mi'l 


l :  I-. ' 


l.oi;.  I. 


39 


u 


300 


CHAPTER 


[173^ 


with  the  viow  of  an  attack  on  the  contiguous  new 
British  province  ofGeorgia,  which  Philip  V.  consider- 
ed as  an  encroachment  on  the  dominions  of  his 
crown,  while  (ieoroje  II.  sent  six  hundred  men  there, 
under  the  orders  oi*  General  Oglethorpe. 

As  soon  as  Bienville  was  informed  that  the  minister 
approved  his  plan  of  an  attack  on  the  Chickasaws, 
with  a  force,  which  was  to  ascend  the  Mississippi  from 
New  Orleans,  and  come  down  from  Canada  and  the  Il- 
linois, he  began  his  preparations.  It  is  not  easy  to  dis- 
cover, on  what  ground  better  success  was  promised, 
in  this  way,  than  by  an  a  p]' roach  of  the  enemy's  coun- 
try up  the  river  Mobile:  the  greatest  fort  of  the 
country  of  the  Indians,  was  to  the  west  of  that  river — 
and  an  army,  landed  on  the  bank  of  Mississippi, 
would  have  to  cross  the  country  of  the  Chocl.iws,  in 
its  whole  w idth.  It  is  true,  the  latter  were  friendly 
Indians — but,  though  this  added  much  to  the  security 
of  the  forces,  it  increased  equally  the  trouble,  fatigue 
and  expense.  By  the  Mobile,  the  French  landed  at 
once  in  the  centre  of  the  enemy's  country. 

In  the  execution  of  his  plans,  Bienville  ordered 
;i  very  strong  detachment  to  the  river  St.  Francis,  in 
the  present  territory  of  Arkansas,  to  be  immediately 
ciiiployed  in  building  sheds  for  the  reception  of  the 
troops,  their  provisions,  arms  and  ammunition,  and  a 
tort  tor  their  protection ;  this  spot  appearing  the 
most  convenient  as  a  place  of  deposit  and  a  rendez- 
vous, for  the  forces  that  might  come  down  from 
Canada  and  the  Illinois. 

In  the  month  of  May,  of  the  following  year,  three  of 
the  king's  ships,  under  the  command  of  the  chevalier 
de  Kerlerec,  landed  at  New  Orleans  a  few  companies 
of  the  marines  who  were  commanded  by  the  cheva- 
lier de  iNoailles. 

Every  thing  having  been  previously  arranged,  the 


1739] 


THE  TWELFTH. 


307 


chevalier  de  Noyant,  sat  off  with  the  van  guard  a  few 
days  after  the  arrival  of  (he  reiufbrcemeiits.  The 
main  body  successively  followed  in  large  detachments, 
and  Bienville  brought  up  the  rear.  The  army  reach- 
ed the  river  St.  Francis,  on  the  last  of  June,  and  with- 
out the  loss  of  much  time,  crossed  the  stream  to  the 
river  Margoi,  on  the  opposite  side,  near  the  spot  on 
which  the  present  town  of  Memphis,  in  the  state  of 
Tennessee,  stands. 

The  army  was  first  employed  in  providing  the 
means  of  conveyance,  for  the  provisions,  arms,  am- 
munition and  baggage,  and  in  building  a  fort,  which 
being  completed  on  the  fifteenth  of  August,  the  day 
on  which  the  Catholic  church  celebrates  the  festival 
of  the  Assumption  of  the  Virgin,  was  called  the  fort  of 
the  Assumption. 

Labuissoniere.  who  had  succeeded  the  unfortunate 
chevalier  d'Artaguette,  in  the  command  of  Fort 
Chartres,  arrived  a  few  days  after,  with  his  garrison, 
a  part  of  the  militia  of  the  Illinois,  and  about  two 
hundred  Indians.  He  was  followed,  the  next  week, 
by  Celeron  and  St.  Laurent,  his  lieutenant,  who  com- 
manded a  company  of  Cadets,  from  Quebec  and  Mon- 
treal, and  a  number  of  Canada  Indians. 

The  force  from  New  Orleans,  consisted  of  the  Loui- 
siana regulars  and  militia,  the  companies  of  marines, 
lately  landed  from  France,  and  upwards  of  sixteen 
hundred  Indians.  So  that  Bienville  found  himself  at 
the  head  of  upwards  of  twelve  hundred  white,  and 
double  that  number  of  Indian  and  black  troops. 

This  comparatively  very  large  army,  unaccounta- 
bly spent  six  months  in  making  preparations  for  its 
march.  In  the  mean  while,  the  troops  lately  arrived 
from  France  became  unhealthy,  and  many  died — the 
climate  had  an  almost  equally  deleterious  influence 
on  those  from  Canada.     The  provisions  were  now 


.,!•';■     'fr' 


I' 


'! 


i',  „l  I  t'    I 


i 


Mm 


CMAl'TEU 


(171U 


exhausted,  and  such  was  the  dearth  ol"  them,  tliat 
horses  were  slaui^lilered  for  food.  Karly  th<;  next 
year.therei^ulars  and  militia  of  (-anada  and  Liouisiana, 
who  had  escaped  the  autumnal  disease  were  prostra- 
ted hy  famine  and  fitii^tie,  aiid  t!ie  chief  was  eomp  d- 
led  to  eonfi.ie  his  call  for  servie(%  to  iiis  red  and  black 
men.     They  weie  his  only  ellectual  Ibice. 

On  the  tiftecnth  of  March.  C'leron  marched  the 
remainder  olMiis  Canadian  Cadets,  to  whom  about  a 
hundred  other  white  soldiers  were  added,  this  small 
body,  vvilli  th(;  n("«^roes  and  Indians,  be^an  t!»e  mareli 
towards  the  village  of  the  Chickasaws,  and  Celeron 
was  instructed  to  promise  peace  to  tiiese  indiaiis,  if 
it  was  a;Ived. 

The  en(Mny  liad  been  apprised  of  the  ari'iv  il  of 
Bienville,  v.  i(h  a\ei'y  Itu^e  ami}/;  and  wiieMlh'y 
perceived  tiir  colours  of  CoUmou's  coinp;iey.  a  lew 
white  men  and  an  immenst;  body  of  ludiaiis.  on  each 
llauk,  liiey  IkuI  no  uoui)t  tliat  the  wliole  force  of 
Bienville  Avas  ther(\  In  the  terror,  which  this  deiu- 
bion  excited,  mosi  of  the  warriors  came  out  of  the  lort, 
and  approaclu'ii^  Celeron  in  an  hundde  post!]re,  bc;^- 
ged  him  to  give  them  peace  and  vouchsale  to  be  llieir 
intercessor  with  Bienville  :  assuring  him  lliey  would 
be  the  inseparable  friends  of  the  Frcmch  ;  swearing 
they  had  been  excitinl  to  hostilities  by  the  English 
from  Carolina,  wlio  !iad  come  to  their  \illages; 
and  pix){e.>ting  tbcy  had  entirely  renounced  any  future 
connection  with  them.  They  said  they  had  lately 
made  two  individuals  of  tliat  nation  prisoners  and 
detained  them  in  the  lort ;  they  pressed  Celeron  to 
serul  one  of  his  oUicers  to  the  fort  that  he  might  be 
satisfied  of  the  truth  of  what  they  told  him:  St.  Lau- 
rent was  accordingly  sent. 

As   he  entered,   the   squaws    began  to  yell  and 
-scream  loudly,  and  demanded  his  head.     On  this,  he 


1710) 


THr:  Twi:i;i'"r]f, 


:H)[.' 


was  seized  and  coiifinrd  in  a  hut,  while  the  men  were 
deliheraliiiij;"  on  tlie  (hMiiand  of  tlie  women:  at  last, 
the  party  who  deemed  it  danp;erous  to  j^rant  it.  |:re- 
vailed,  and  St.  L  lurent  was  taken  out,  and  shewn 
tlie  white  prisoiiers.  Pleased  at  the  hnppy  turn  the 
atFiirh  had  taken,  he  promised  peace  to  the  Indians, 
in  the  name  ol' Celeron.  They  all  I'ollowed  him  to 
tlie  camp,  wliere  the  eaptaiji  ratilied  his  lieutenant's 
promise. 

A  deputation  of  the  Chiekasaws.  joiniuii;  the  {"n^nc'h 
on  their  retroj^rade  mareh,  Celeron  led  hack  his  force 
to  the  Mississippi,  where  the  calumet  was  pn,  *en(ed. 
by  the  Chickasavvs,  to  Bienville.  They  renewed  to 
him  the  protestation  of  their  thnotion,  to  the  inte- 
rest o(  the  French,  and  presented  him  the  two 
E!iii;lishmen.  Tlie  calumet  was  accepted,  and  the 
deputi(^s  were  permitted  to  return. 

The  fort  of  the  Assinnplion  was  razed  and  fjabuis- 
sonniere  and  Celeron  ascended  the  river  with  those  ol 
tlH'ir  men,  who:n  disease  and  lamine  liad  spared. 
The  iorce  Irom  New  Orleans  stopped  at  the  river  St. 
Francis  to  dismantle  the  fort,  and  then  floated  down  to 
the  city. 

Thus  ended  the  Chickasaw  war,  undertaken  by 
J3ienviJIe  to  compel  these  Indians,  to  surrender  the 
Natchez,  who  had  found  an  asylum  among  the  former. 
Peace  was  made  on  the  promise  of  the  Indians  of  one 
of  the  villages  of  the  enemy,  to  be  in  future  the  de- 
voted friends  of  the  French — purchased  at  the  price 
of  many  valuable  lives,  at  a  vast  expense  besides, 
and  with  great  distress  and  toil.  The  French  chief 
acquired  no  military  glory  from  the  war. 

While  tranquillity  appeared  thus  restored  to  Louisi- 
ana, that  of  Europe  was  disturbed,  at  the  death  of 
the  Emperor  Charles  the  sixth,  on  the  twentieth  of 
September,  1740,  without  male  issue.     According  to 


■.M^ 


I'.' . 


MM 


n 


JID 


CHAPTMR 


tnio 


the  pragmatic  sanction,  by  vvliich  in  171.*{  it  had  been 
provided,  that  his  eldest  daughter  Ghoukl  succeed 
him,  Maria  Theresa  ascended  his  throne.  Louis  the 
fifteenth  united  with  Prussia  and  Poland,  in  support, 
of  the  pretentions  of  the  Duke  of  Bavaria,  to  the  im- 
perial sceptre,  and  the  dogs  of  war  were  let  loose. 

The  chevalier  de  Beauharnois,  Governor  Gene- 
ral of  New  France,  was  succeeded  by  the  count  de 
la  Galiissoniere. 


Charlevoix. — Laharpe. — Vergennes. — Dupraiz. — Archives. 


1741 


THE  THIRTEENTH 


;Hl 


,'■( 


CHAPTER  XIH. 

/  he  JVIarffms  dc.  VanffreuU. — Superior  Council. — Georgia. 
-J\  ova-Scotia—  iVar.— Irruption  from  Canada. — Paper 
.securities — The  Island  of  Cape  Breton  taken. — lyj^n- 

viUe's  jUet. — Ferdinand.,   VI. — Hurricane Dearth 

Relief  from  the  Illinois. — Overseer  of  the  high  ways 

Survei/or  General.-Olivicr  Duvezin. -Civil  Regulations. 
—Peace of,/lix-la-chapelle.—Redemptioners  and  muskets. 
— Larouvilliere. — Ohio  Company. — Complaint  of  the 
Governor  General,  of  JVew- France. — Quota  of  troops  in 
Louisiana. — The  culture  of  tobacco  encouraged. — Rrii- 
ish  tradei  s  among  the  Twigtwees  arrested.— Exemption  of 
duty. — Recruits  from   France. — Sugar  Cane.-— Myrtle 

Wax. — Irruption  of  the  Chickasaws Vaudreuil  marches 

into  their  country. — ./I  fort  built  on  French  creek — Gover- 
nor Dinwiddle. —  Major  Washington. — Kerlerec. — Des- 
closeaux. — Jumonville. —  Villiers.-Fort  JS'ecessity.— Mur- 
der of  the  Commandant  on   Cat  Island. — Beausejour. — 
The   Acadian  Coast. — General  Braddock. — Fort  Du- 
ffuesne. — Crown  Point  and  JSiagara. — Declaration  of 
War. —  The    Earl  of  Loudoun. — The  Marquis    die 
Montcalm. — Fort   Oswego  and  William  Henry   taken 
by  the  French^  and  the  Islands  of  Cape   Breton  and  St. 
John  by  the  British. — Fort  Frontefiac. — General  Forbes, 
— Fort  Duquesne. — Fort  Massac. — Barracks  in  JVev) 
Orleans. — Rochemore.-Diaz   Arria. — Bdot.-Marigny 
de    Mandevillc. — Lahoupe. — Ticonderoga. — Crown 
Point.,  JYiagara  and  Quebec   taken. — Charles    III. — 
George  III. — Attakapas,  Opclousas   and  ./Ivoyelles. — 
Depreciated  paper. — Unsuccessful  negotiation   between 
Great   Britain  and  France. —  The  family  compact. — 
Martinico,  St.  Lucie.,  Qrenada  and  Havana  taken. — 
Treaty  between  France  and  Spain. — Peace  of  Paris. 


■  ! 


yi  f 


Jiy 


('iiai»ti:k 


[1711 


THK  Manjuisdc  VaiulrniiK  a  son  ofllic  lulo Gov- 
ernor (Jcncriil  olNcvv    rnnicr.  was  in  IT  1 1.  .i|)|toiii. 


t('(l(i 


jo\<'rnoror  lionisiaiia,  am 


I  I' 


H'ii\  ill<'  sai 


i(d  I 


>a<' 


to    Kriiucr,  Hindi    if^i^r'ttod  \>y  tli<"  <'oloni>(s.      'The 


ial(< 


vv  was  tlu'  )'onii<jrst  son  oi  Lciiioviic  dc  I>umi\iII( 


t  I 


(ic  i: 


n 


a  i;oiill('inan  of*  QucIki',  wIk»  Ii:mI  scxcn  sons  i 
tlio  svrvic(M)f  his  sovcrcijiii.  Bi('ii\  illc.  the  cMcst, 
f(;ll  in  l>nt(le  in  Canada.  Il»<'r\  illc.  Scriirny.  ^  auvollc, 
(■lial>"!iMi;iir  and  St.  lleU'in',  Imvc  all  iicen  tinMi- 
tionf'd    in   lliis   work. — 'I  he  yonniicst.  to   whom   the 


nain(M)ri!io  eldest  li*'.d  l>e«>ii  !:ive:i.  t'anie,  as  we 


haNO 


said,  to  Loiiisia'ia.  with  iherville.  in  MiiM}.  lie  >\as 
then  twenty  tuo  ve;us  oiajre,  and  a  nruishipiiian.  in 
the  royal  na\  v.  lie  remained  in  th<'  proxiiu-e  eon- 
tinnally.  e\eej)l  din-in^  the  administration  ot"l'erri(T, 
and  was  the  ehiel"  in  coininand,  dnriii<;  mo.-t  ot'thc 
time.  I!e  was  called  the  liilher  oi  the  country,  and 
deserved  the  appellation. 


'rh 


le  commerce  oi  Lonisiana.  released  Irom  tne 
restraints  ol'the  (exclusive  privilei;e  ol'tlie  co.npany, 
now  heojaii  to  thrive.  lndiji;o  was  cnllivated  to  a 
considcral)l<»  ext«Mit,  and  with  much  success,  and 
with  rice  and  tohacco,  allbrded  easy  means  ol"  remit- 
tance to  h^urope,  while  lumher  found  a  market  in  the 


West  India  island; 


The  ("hickasaws  were  less  tur- 


bulent:  a  circumstance  attributed  to  the  employ- 
ment which  war  gave  to  the  people  ol"  South  (Jaro- 
lina  and  Georgia. 

The  increase  of  trade  caused  litigation,  and  it 
was  deemed  necessary  to  create  new  ofHcers,  in  the 
superior  council.  Accordingly,  the  governor  and 
the  commissary  ordonnateur  were,  l)y  the  king's  let- 
ters patent  ol'the  month  olAugust,  1712,  diiected  to 
appoint  tour  assessors,  to  serve  for  a  period  of  four 
years  in  that  tribunal.  They  \vere  to  sit  and  rank 
after  the  councillors  :   but  their  votes  were  received 


ft,; 


P 


•i 


1742] 


THE  THIRTEENTH. 


tjia 


Iroin  tiie 


only,  in  cases  in  w  hicli  the  record  was  referred  to 
them  to  report  on  when-  they  were  called  upon  to 
complete  a  cjuorum,  or  in  case  of  an  e(juality  ol' votes. 
The  choice  of  the  Iwo  administratois,  for  the  first 
time,  fell  on  Delachaise.  a  s^on  of  the  late  commissary 
ordoimateur,  Delalande  d'Aspremont,  Amelot  and 
Massy. 

The  Spanianis  this  year  made  an  unsuccessful  at- 
tempt on  the  province  of  Georgia. 

With  a  view  ol  having  that  of  Nova-Scotia,  (which 
had  been  restored  to  Great  Britain  ai  the  peace  of 
Utrecht)  occupied  by  national  subjects,  the  former 
French  inhabitants  had  t  een  mostly  driven  away ; 
three  thousand  families  were  brought  over,  at  a  great 
expense  defrayed  by  government,  and  three  regi- 
ments were  stationed  there  to  protect  these  people, 
against  the  F'rench  of  Canada  and  the  Indians. 

George  the  second  having  taken  arms,  in  support 
of  the  claim  of  Maria  Theresa  to  the  throne  of  her 
father,  and  having  in  person  gained  the  famous  battle 
of  Dettingen  against  the  allied  tbrces,  war  was 
kindled  between  France  and  Great  Britain. 

Hostilities  began  in  America,  *  by  frequent  irrup- 
tions of  the  French  from  Canada  into  JNova-Scotia. 
A  small  land  and  naval  force  from  the  island  of  Cape 
Breton,  afterwards  possessed  itself  of  the  town  of 
Canceaux,  and  made  its  garrison  and  some  ol  the  in- 
habitants prisoners.  A  less  successful  attack  was 
made  on  Annapolis — the  French  being  driven  back 
by  the  garrison,  which  had  been  reintbrced  by  a 
strong  detachment  from  Massachusetts.  The  con- 
quest of  Nova-Scotia  being  a  favorite  object  with  the 
people  of  Canada,  Duvivier  was  sent  to  France,  to 
solicit  the  minister  to  send  out  a  suiiicient  force  for 
this  purpose. 

Louisiana  suffered  a  great  deal  from  the  want 

J^ou.  1.  40 


;'ii 


■t         * 


»  ''  ''  '4i  ^  ■ 


J\i 


CHAPTEU 


[174S. 


of  a  circulating  inrdiiim.  Card  money  liatl  cauf^od 
tluMlis;»pp<.'araiico  of  the  gold  and  silver,  <  irculaling 
in  llie  cidony  Ijclorc  its  cinisssion,  and  its  snbso- 
cjutMit  depreciation  had  induced  tlie  coniinissnry 
ordorniateur  to  liave  recourse  to  an  issue  of  oyY/o//r//ircv, 
a  kind  of  bills  of  credit,  uhicli  although  not  a  legal 
tender,  from  the  want  ofa  inetallie  currency,  soon  he- 
carnc  an  object  ofconnnerce.  They  were  Iblloued 
by  treasiu'y  ilotes,  which  being  receivable  in  the  dis- 
cliarge  ot'all  claims  of  the  treasury,  soon  got  into  cir- 
culation, This  cumulation  ol  public  securities  in  the 
market,  within  a  short  time  threw  them  all  into  dis- 
credit, and  gave  rise  to  an  agiotage,,  highly  injurious 
to  commerce  arul  agriculture. 

While  Duvivier  was  gone  to  France   to  induce  the 
minister  to  furnish  means  tor  the  re-capture  of  Nova- 
Scotia,    Governor    Shirley     of    Massachusetts    had 
despatcheil  captain  Ryall,  an   oiTicer  of  the  garrison 
captured  at  Canceaux,  to  represent    the  danger,  in 
which  the  province  of  Nova-Scotia  stood,  to  the  lords 
of  the  admiralty,  and  press  them  tor  some  naval  assis- 
tance.    The  captain  was  also  charged  to  present  a 
plan,  which  Governor  Shirley  had  formed  for  the  sur- 
prise and  capture  of  the  island  of  Cape   Bretori,  the 
possession  of  which,   in  the  neighbourhood  of  New- 
Foundland,  enabled   the   French  to  annoy  the  fishe- 
ries and  commerce  ofGreat  Britain.     Although  near- 
ly eight  millions  of  dollars  had  been  spent  by  France 
on  the  fortifications  of  that  island,  the  smallness  of 
the  garrison,  and  the  vicinity  of  the  British  provinces, 
induced  Shirley  to  conclude  it  might  easily  be  taken 
by  surprise:    the   idea  had  not  originated  with  him, 
but   had  been  suggested  by  Vaughan,  a  merchant  of 
New-Hampshire. 

Ry all's  mission  had  no  other  effect  than  a  direction 
to  the  commander   of  the  squadron,  in  the  West  In- 


1746] 


THE  TirinTKHNTH. 


.51  r. 


dies,  to  prorord  to  the  nortli  in  tlw  spring,  to  sifl'ord 

Rroti'ctioii  to  the  commerce  aiul  fitslieries  of  the 
ew-Kiighuul  provinceis.  and  distress  those  oftfie 
Fr(?nch :  and  the  governors  were  instructed  to  aid 
him  with  transports,  nteii  tiff''  }»rovisions. 

In  the  m(?anwhile,  V  auglmn's  plfui  had  been  suhmit- 
tcd  to  tlie  legislature  ot  the  provinces,  and  those  of 
New-Hampshire,  MaM>*aefiusetts  and  Connecticut, 
had  raised  about  four  thoii^nnd  men,  and  'he  gover- 
nors of  the  two  first  colonies,  had  taken  upon  ihem- 
8elves,onthis occasion,  to  disregard  their  instrurlions, 
and  to  give  their  assent  to  bills  for  the  euiission  of 
paper  monej. 

The  colonial  forces  assembled  at  Canceaux,  to- 
wards the  middle  of  April,  and  were  put  under  the 
order  of  Vaughan,  and  soon  after  the  West  India 
fleet  arrived. 

A  landing  on  the  island  was  effected  a  i'ew  days  af- 
ter, and  while  the  fleet  was  cruising  off  Ijouisbourg, 
it  fell  in  with  a  sixty-four  gun  ship  from  France,  with 
five  hundred  and  sixty  men,  destined  for  the  garri- 
son and  an  ample  supply  of  provisions  and  military 
stores:  she  was  captured,  and  the  land  forces  soon 
after  compelled  the  garrison  to  surrender. 

In  the  mean  while,  the  succour  Duvivier  had  been 
sent  to  solicit,  had  been  obtained ;  seven  ships  of  war, 
w  ith  a  considerable  la^id  force,  sailed  from  France, 
in  the  month  of  July.  They  were  ordered  to  stop  at 
Louisbourg,  where  they  were  to  be  joined  by  a  num- 
ber of  volunteers  from  Canada,  for  the  attack  of  Nova- 
Scotia.  Information  reached  the  fleet,  soon  after  its 
departure,  of  the  fall  of  Louisbourg,  and  of  a  British 
fleet  cruizing  in  its  vicinity  ;  the  plan  was  aban- 
doned and  the  fleet  returned  into  port. 

Great  preparations  were  made  by  both  nations,  in 
the  following  year.       The   British  determined  on 


'    It 


11(5 


CHAPTER 


tl74t 


simultaneous  attacks  on  Canada,  from  sea  and  the 
lakes,  and  a  very  considerable  Ibrcc  was  collected 
for  this  purpose.  The  French  equipped  a  large  fleet 
under  the  Duke  d'Anville,  for  the  re-capture  of  the 
island  of  Cape  Breton  and  Nova-Scotia;  but  like  the 
Spanish  armada,  this  fleet  was,  if  not  destroyed,  dis- 
persed by  the  winds  and  the  waves:  most  of  the 
ships  were  disabled.  The  appreliension  which  its 
approach  excited,  induced  the  British  to  turn  to- 
wards the  protection  of  their  own  territories  the 
forces  they  had  assembled  for  the  reduction  of 
Canada. 

Philip  the  fifth  of  Spain  ended  his  second  reign 
and  liis  life,  in  the  sixty-third  year  of  his  age,  on  the 
ninth  of  July,  nml  >vn.s  succeeded  by  his  second  son, 
Ferdinand  the  sixth,  having  himself,  been  succeeded 
by,  and  succeeded,  his  first. 

Louisiana  was  this  year  visited  by  a  destructive 
hurricane,  which  laid  the  plantations  waste,  and  total- 
ly destroyed  the  rice  crop.  This  article  was  used  in 
most  families,  as  a  substitute  for  bread.  The  conse- 
quent distress  was  greatly  encreased  by  the  capture 
of  several  vf  ssels,  that  had  sailed  from  France,  with 
provisions.  The  province  was,  however,  relieved 
by  large  supplies  of  llour,  from  the  district  of  the 
Illinois,  amounting  it  is  said  to  four  thousand  sacks. 
This  part  of  the  province  was  already,  at  this  period, 
of  considerable  importance,  in  a  letter  to  the  minister, 
V^audreuil  wrote,  "we  receive  from  the  Illinois  flour, 
corn,  bacon  hams,  both  of  bear  and  hog,  corned 
pork  and  wild  beef,  myrtle  and  bees  wax.  cotton,  tal- 
low, leather,  tobacco,  lead,  copper,  buflfalo.  wool, 
venison,  poultry,  bear's  grease,  oil,  skins,  ibwls,  and 
hides.  Their  boats  come  down  annually,  in  the  latter 
part  of  December  and  return  in  February.  " 

War  drew  oflfthe  attention  of  the  people  of  South 


•  '!•■  ..h 


1748J 


THE  THIRTEENTH. 


31t 


Carolina  and  Georgia ;  and  the  Indians,  left  to  them- 
selves, did  not  annoy  the  distant  settlements  of  the 
French,  and  that  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Fort  Char* 
ires  was  in  a  very  flourishing  condition. 

The  extension  of  agriculture  and  commerce  drew 
the  attention  of  government  to  the  roads  in  the  colo- 
ny, and  regulations  were  made  for  their  construction 
and  repairs.  The  otBce  of  overseer  of  the  high-ways 
was  created  and  given  to  Olivier  Duvezin.  who  was 
also  appointed  the  king's  surveyer  general  in  the  pro- 
vince. His  commission  bears  date  the  month  of  Oc- 
tober 1747. 

The  incapacity  of  many  of  the  persons  who  had 
been  appointed,  principally  in  the  distant  posts,  to 
make  inventories  of  estates  of  the  deceased  and 
similar  acts,  joined  to  the  impossibility  often  of  finding 
any  person  to  be  appointed,  had  caused,  in  many  in- 
stances, the  omission  of  the  formalities  required  by 
law  ;  great  inconvenience  had  resulted  from  the  ne- 
cessity imposed  on  the  superior  council,  of  declaring 
some  of  these  acts  absolutely  imll.  On  the  representa- 
tions of  the  colonists,  a  remedy  for  this  evil  was 
sought,  and  a  declaration  of  the  king's  council  of  the 
thirteenth  of  March,  1748,  provided  tliat  any  invento- 
ry or  other  instrument,  made  in  any  of  the  posts  of 
the  province,  in  which  there  was  no  public  olficer, 
and  even  in  those  in  which  there  was  such  an  olficer 
as  in  New  Orleans,  Mobile  and  the  Illinois,  where 
the  legal  formalities  were  omitted,  should  be  valid, 
provided  there  was  no  fraud  ;  and  such  inventory  or 
other  public  instrument  should,  within  the  year  after 
the  publication  of  the  declaration,  be  presented  to 
the  superior  council,  and  on  the  motion  of  the  attor- 
ney general,  recorded,  in  order  to  prevent  litiga- 
tion, and  promote  the  peace  of  families. 

New  Orleans,  Mobile  and  the  Illinois  being  the 


;'■* 


m 


■  1   ;'«!►:!; 

"■in 


m 

m  ■ 


IK: 

.1 

I  1  «  , 


VH8 


CHAPTER 


[1748 


only  places  in  the  province,  ^here  public  ofliccrs  re- 
sided, it  was  directcxl  that  elsewhere,  inventcrie's^and 
other  public  acts  might  in  luture  be  made  by  two  no- 
table inhabitants,  attended  by  an  equal  number  of 
witnesses,  and  within  the  year  transmitted  for  regis- 
try to  the  superior  council  in  New  Orleans,  or  the  in- 
ferior tribunals  in  Mobile,  or  the  Illinois. 

The  winter  was  this  year  so  severe,  that  all  the 
orange  trees 'were  destroyed — a  misfortune  of  which 
this  is  the  first  instance  on  record. 

The  peace  of  iVix  laChapelle,  on  the  eigliteenth 
day  of  October,  settled  the  dissentions  of  Europe  and 
put  an  end  to  the  warfare  between  Canada  and  New 
England.  Maria  Theresa  was  recognised  as  Em- 
press, and  Don  Carlos,  the  third  son  of  Philip,  re- 
tained the  crown  of  the  two  Sicilies.  Louis  XV.  and 
George  11.  agreed  that  all  conquests  made  during  the 
war  should  be  restored,  and  the  French  re-possessed 
the  island  of  Cape  Breton. 

The  provision  made  by  the  treaty  of  Utrecht  for 
defining  the  boundary  between  Canada  and  Acadia, 
had  not  been  carried  into  effect.  The  cabinet  of 
Versailles  urged  that  by  the  cession  of  Acadia,  noth- 
ing had  been  yielded,  but  the  peninsula  formed  by  the 
bay  of  Fundy,  the  Atlantic  and  the  gulf  of  St.  Law- 
rence— that  of  St.  James  claimed  all  the  land  to  the 
south  of  the  river  St.  Lawrence.  Unfortunately, 
measures  were  not  taken,  at  the  pacification  of  Aix 
la  Chapelle,  to  remove  this  source  of  controversy. 

On  the  twenty-fifth  of  November,  the  king  prolong- 
ed for  six  years,  the  exemption  he  had  granted  to  ves- 
sels trading  to  Louisiana,  from  carrying  thither  the 
number  of  redemptioners  and  muskegs,  which  were  re- 
quired to  be  taken  to  his  other  American  colonies. 

Larouvilliere,  succeeded  Salmon  as  Commissary 
Ordonnateur,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  following  year. 


[1748 


1750] 


THE  THIRTEENTH. 


Sl^ 


'.;4iri 


icors  re- 

!  tuo  no- 
umber  of 
or  regis- 
3r  the  iii- 

at  all  the 
of  which 

ghteenth 
irope  and 
and  New 
d  as  Em- 
*hilip,  re- 
,  XV.  and 
luring  the 
possessed 

trecht  for 
I  Acadia, 
?.abinet  of 
lia,  noth- 
led  by  the 
St.   Law- 
,nd  to  the 
rtunately, 
3n  of  Aix 
jversy. 
;  prolong- 
ed to  ves- 
ither  the 
1  were  re- 
)lonies. 
mmissary 
ing  year. 


fv: 

I"; 


>.-    i 


Several  individuals  in  England  and  Virginia  had 
associated  themselves,  under  the  style  of  the  Ohio 
company  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  on  the  Indian 
trade,  and  effectiiig  a  settlement  on  the  land  border- 
ing on  that  stream.  They  obtained  from  the  crown 
a  grant  of  six  hundred  thousand  acres  of  land,  on 
the  western  side  of  the  Alleghany  mountains.  Their 
surveyors  and  traders  soon  crossed  the  ridge,  and 
erected  block  houses  and  stores  among  the  Indians. — 
The  Marquis  de  la  Jonquiere,  who  had  succeeded  the 
Count  de  laGallissoniere  in  the  government  of  New- 
France,  considering  the  country  thus  occupied  as 
part  of  the  dominions  of  his  severeign,  complained 
to  governor  Colden,  of  New  York  and  governor 
Hamilton  of  Pennsylvania,  of  what  he  viewed  as  an 
encroachment,  and  assured  them  that,  if  this  notice 
was  disregarded,  he  should  deem  it  his  indispensa- 
ble duty  to  arrest  the  surveyors  and  traders,  and  to 
seize  the  goods  of  the  latter. 

The  French  had  then  a  large  force  at  Presquisle 
on  Lake  Erie,  and  small  detachments  on  French 
creek  and  the  Alleghany  river,  and  were  making 
preparations  for  building  a  considerable  fort,  at  the 
confluence  of  the  latter  stream  and  the  Monongahela, 
the  spot  on  which  now  stands  the  town  of  Pittsburg. 
This  fort,  with  those  on  lake  Ontario,  at  Niagara^ 
the  Illinois,  the  Chickasaw  bluffs,  the  Yazous,  Natch- 
ez, Pointe  Coupee  and  New  Orleans,  was  intended  to 
form  a  connecting  line,  between  the  gulfs  of  St.  Law- 
rence and  Mexico. 

The  quota  of  troops  for  the  service  of  the  pro- 
vince, on  the  peace  establishment,  was  fixed  by  an 
arrest  of  the  king's  council  dated  the  30th  of  Septem- 
ber n-OO,  at  eight  hundred  and  fifty  men,  divided  into 
seventeen  companies. 

The  agriculture  9f  the  province  was  favoured  by 


■i 


1 1  ■  • 

i  ' 

.  .1  ■ 

W' 

1';" 

IB 

.!;  •■. 


320 


liHAPTER 


(1751 


an  arrangement  with  the  farmers  general  of  the  king- 
dom, who  agreed  to  purchase  all  the  tohacco,  raised 
in  Louisiana,  at  thirty  livres  the  hundred,  equal  to 
six  dollars  and  two  thirds. 

The  remonstrances  of  the  Marquis  de  la  Jonquiere 
to  the  goverrjors  of  New  York  and  Pennsylvaina  hav- 
ing been  disregarded,  he  put  his  threats  into  execu- 
tion, by  the  seizure  of  the  persons  and  goods  of  seve- 
ral British  traders  among  the  Twigtwees. 

The  king  had  ftivoured  in  1731,  the  commerce  of 
his  subjects  to  Louisiana,  b}  exempting  all  merchan- 
dize  sent  to,  or  brought  from  the  province,  from  duty, 
during  a  period  often  yf^ars,  and  the  exemption  had 
in  1741,  been  extended  for  a  like  period.  It  was  by 
an  arrest  of  the  king's  council,  dated  the  last  of  Sep- 
tember, farther  prolonged  during  a  third  period  of 
the  same  duratijon:  but  with  regard  to  foreign  mer- 
chandize sent  there,  it  was  restricted  to  salt  beef, 
butter,  tallow  and  spices. 

Two  hundred  recruits  arrived  from  France  on  the 
seventeenth  of  April,  for  the  completion  of  the  quota 
of  troops  allotted  to  the  province.  The  king's  ships, 
in  which  they  were  embarked,  touched  at  the  cape, 
in  the  island  of  Hispaniola,  where,  with  a  view  of  try- 
ing with  what  success  the  sugar  cane  could  be  culti- 
vated on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi,  the  Jesuits  of 
that  island  were  permitted  to  ship  to  their  brethren  in 
Louisiana,  a  quantity  of  it.  A  number  of  negroes, 
•acquainted  with  tfie  culture  and  manufacture  of 
sugar,  came  in  the  fleet.  The  canes  were  planted  on 
the  lard  of  the  fathers  immediately  above  the  city, 
in  the  lower  part  of  the  spot  now  known  as  the  suburb 
St.  Mary.  Belbre  this  time,  the  front  of  the  planta- 
tion had  been  improved  in  the  raising  of  the  myrtle 
wax  shrub  ;    the  rest  was  sown  with  indigo. 

The  myrtle  wax  shrub  is  very  common  in  Louisi- 


[1751 

1  kinp;- 

raised 

qual  to 

iquiere 

ia  hav- 

execu- 

if  seve- 

erce  oi 
rrchan- 
in  duty, 
ion  had 
was  by 
of  Sep- 
?riod  of 
gn  mer- 
ilt  beef, 

e  on  the 
e  quota 
's  ships, 
e  cape, 
\  oftry- 
e  culti- 
suits  of 
thren  in 
negroes, 
cture  of 
nted  on 
the  city, 
suburb 
planta- 
myrtle 

Louisi* 


1751] 


THE  THIRTEfENTH. 


a2l 


ana,  Florida,  Georgia,  the  Caiolinas  and  Virginia, 
and  not  rare  in  the  more  northern  states  on  the  Atlan- 
tic. It  bears  grapes  of  very  diminutive  bluish  ber- 
ries, the  seeds  of  which  are  included  in  a 
hard, oblong  nucleus,  covered  by  an  unctuous  and  far- 
inaceous substance,  easily  reducible  into  wax.  In 
November  and  December,  the  berries,  being  perfect- 
ly ripe,  are  boiled  in  water,  and  the  wax  detaches 
itself  and  floats  on  the  surface.  It  is  then  skimmed  off 
and  suffered  to  cool.  It  becomes  hard  atid  its  colour 
a  dirty  green:  after  a  second  boiling,  the  colour  be- 
comes clearer.  The  candles  made  of  this  wax  ex- 
hale, in  burning,  a  very  pleasant  odour.  Unsuc- 
cessful attempts  have  been  made  to  bleach  it.  It  ie 
apt  to  crack,  and  is  rendered  tenacious,  by  being 
mixed  with  tallow  or  soft  wax. 

The  ships  landed  also  sixty  poor  girls,  who  were 
brought  over  at  the  king's  expense.  They  were  the 
last  succour  of  this  kind,  which  the  mother  country 
supplied.  They  were  given  in  marriage  to  such  sol- 
diers whose  good  conduct  entitled  them  to  a  discharge. 
Land  was  allotted  to  each  couple  with  a  cow  and 
calf,  a  cock  and  five  hens ;  a  gun,  axe  and  hoe.  Dur- 
ing the  three  first  years,  rations  were  allowed 
them,  with  a  small  quantity  of  powder,  shot  and  grain 
for  seed. 

Macarty,  on  the  twentieth  of  August,  went  with  a 
small  detachment  to  take  command  of  Fort  Chartree 
of  the  Illinois,  left  vacant  by  the  death  of  the  unfortu- 
nate chevalier  d'Artaguette.  This  district  had,  at 
this  period,  six  villages ;  Kaskaskias,  Fort  Chartres, 
Caokias,  Prairie  des  rochers,  St.  Philip  and  St.  Gene- 
vieve. 

Tranquillity  being  now  restored  to  the  British  pro- 
vince, traders  from  the  southernmost,  poured  in  their 
goods,  and  erected  stores  and  block  houses,  in  the 

LOU,  r.  41 


^} 


>*     f  ■  ;■ 


■*'  ■  ffl'! 


at 
1lt 


322 


CHAPTER 


[176t; 


villages  of  the  Indians,  on  theirback  settlements;  and 
those  of  the  French  on  Mobile  and  Alibamon  rivers 
b<"gan  to  be  distressed  by  the  renewed  irruptions  of 
the  Chickasavvs.  In  consequence  thereof,  the  Mar- 
quis de  Vaudreuil  marched  into  their  country  at  the 
head  of  a  body  of  seven  hundred  men  of  the  regular 
forces  and  militia,  and  a  large  number  of  Indians. 
He  was  not  very  successful :  the  enemy  had  been 
taught  hy  the  British  to  fortify  their  villages.  Each 
had  a  strong  block  house,  surrounded  by  a  wide  and 
deep  ditch.  The  colony  was  badly  supplied  with 
field  artillery  and  soldiers  skilled  in  the  management 
of  the  pieces.  The  Marquis  lost  little  time  in  lay- 
ing sieges,  but  wandered  through  the  country,  laying 
the  plantations  waste.  He  enlarged  the  fort  of  Tom- 
beckbee,  left  a  strong  garrison  in  it  and  returned  to 
New  Orleans. 

The  settlements  along  tlie  Mississippi,  above  the 
city  and  below,  as  far  as  the  English  turn,  were  now 
in  high  cultivation.  The  Marquis,  in  a  letter  to  the 
minister  of  this  year,  observed  it  was  almost  an  im- 
possibility to  have  plantations  near  the  river,  on  ac- 
count of  the  immense  expense,  attending  the  levees, 
necessary  to  protect  the  fields  from  the  inundation  of 
sea  and  land  iloods.  He  recommended  that  the  idea 
of  settling  the  part  of  the  country  below  the  English 
turn  should  be  abandoned,  till  the  land  was  raised 
by  the  accession  of  the  soil.  He  observed  there  had 
been  an  increase  of  three  feet  in  height,  during  the 
last  fifteen  years. 

A  detachment  from  the  troops  in  Canada  had  been 
sent  under  the  orders  of  Legardeur  de  St.  Pierre,  a 
knight  of  St.  Louis,  to  erect  a  fort  on  the  western 
branch  of  French  creek,  which  falls  into  the  Ohio. 
This  orficer,  on  the  twelfth  of  December,  1753,  re- 
v'eived  by  the  hands  of  major  Washington    of  Virginia 


its;  and 
1   rivers 
tions  of 
tie  Mar- 
•y  at  the 
;  regular 
Indians, 
id    been 
Each 
\ide  and 
ied  with 
jagemenl 
le  in  lay- 
ly,  laving 
t  of  Tom- 
turned  to 

ibove  the 
were  now 
iter  to  the 
ost  an  im- 
er,  on  ac- 
le  levees, 
ndalion  of 
it  the  idea 
le  English 
vas  raised 
there  had 
Juring  the 

had  been 
Pierre,  a 
le  western 
the  Ohio. 
,  1753,  re- 
of  Virginia 


)763) 


THE  THIRTEENTH. 


323 


!^   ; 


(a  man  whose  name  willlong  attract  the  admiration  of 
the  world  and  forever  that  of  his  country)  a  letter  from 
governor  Dinwiddie,  summoning  him  to  withdraw, 
with  the  men  under  his  command,  from  the  dominions 
of  the  British  king.  He  wrote  to  the  governor,  he 
had  been  sent  to  take  possession  of  the  country,  by 
his  superior  officer,  then  in  Canada,  to  whom  he 
would  transmit  the  message,  and  whose  order  he 
would  implicitly  obey. 

In  a  quarrel  between  a  Choctaw  and  aColapissa, 
the  former  told  the  latter,  his  countrymen  were  the 
dogs  of  the  French — meaning  their  slaves.  The  Co- 
lapissa,  having  a  loaded  musket  in  his  hands,  dischar- 
ged its  contents  at  the  Choctaw,  and  tied  to  New  Or- 
leans. The  relations  of  the  deceased  came  to  the 
Marquis  de  Vaudreuil  to  demand  his  surrender:  he 
had  in  the  mean  while  gone  to  the  German  coast. 
The  Marquis,  having  vainly  tried  to  appease  them, 
sent  orders  to  Renaud,  the  commandant  of  that  post 
io  have  the  murderer  arrested;  but  he  eluded  the  pur- 
suit. His  father  went  to  the  Choctaws  and  offered 
himself  a  willing  victim  :  the  relations  of  the  deceased 
persisted  in  their  refusal  to  accept  any  compensation 
in  presents.  They  at  last  consented  to  allow  the  old 
man  to  atone,  by  the  loss  of  his  own  life,  for  the  crime 
of  his  son.  He  stretched  himself  on  the  trunk  of  an 
old  tree  and  a  Choctaw  severed  his  head  from  the 
body,  at  the  first  stroke.  This  instance  of  paternal 
aflfection  was  made  the  subject  of  a  tragedy,  by  Le- 
blanc  de  Villeneuve,  an  officer  of  the  troops  lately 
arrived  from  France.  This  performance  is  the  only 
dramatic  work,  which  the  republic  of  letters  owes  to 
Louisiana. 

The  Marquis  de  Vaudreuil  was  this  year  promoted, 
and  succeeded  Duquesne,  in  the  government  of  New^ 
France,  and  was  succeeded,  in  that  of  Louisiana  by 


ml 


nM 


ri24 


Chapter 


I  mi 


Kerlerec,  a  captain  in  the  royal  navy; — anfl  Auber- 
ville  was,  on  the  death  of  La  Rouvilliere,  appointed 
commissiary  ordonnateur. 

On  the  return  of  major  Washington,  the  legislature 
of  Virginia,  directed  a  regiment  to  be  raised,  ot  which 
he  was  appointed  Lieutenant  Colonel.  He  was  then 
in  his  twenty-second  year. 

Washington  advanced  with  two  companies  of  his 
regiment,  in  the  middle  of  April,  175 1,  and  surprised 
a  party  of  the  French,  under  the  orders  of  Jumoiu  ille, 
a  few  miles  west  of  a  place  then  called  the  Great 
meadows,  in  the  present  county  of  Fivyette,  in  the 
state  of  Pennsylvania,  and  on  the  first  fire  this  genUe- 
man  fell  He  was  the  only  man  killed,  but  the  whole 
party  surrendered.  The  rest  of  the  reginiont  came 
up  soon  after.  Colonel  Fry,  its  commander,  having 
died  on  the  way,  Washington  found  himself  at  the 
head  of  it,  and  was  soon  after  reinforced  by  detach- 
inents  from  New  York  and  South  Carolina. 

There  was  then  at  Fort  Chartres  of  the  Illinois, 
an  officer  named  Villiers,  brother  of  Jumonville,  who 
hearing  of  his  death,  solicited  from  Macarty,  who 
had  succeeded  La  Buissonniere,  in  the  command  of 
Fort  Chartres,  to  be  allowed  to  go  and  avenge  his 
brother's  death,  with  the  fev/  soldiers  that  could  be 
spared  and  a  large  number  of  Indians.  Villiers  des- 
cended the  Mississippi  and  ascended  the  Ohio  — 
Washington,  having  erected  a  small  fort  as  a  place  of 
deposit  to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  Fort  Necessity, 
the  traces  of  which  are  still  visible  near  Union,  the 
chief  town  of  the  county  of  Fayette,  was  marching 
towards  the  confluence  of  the  Monongahela  and  the 
Aleghany,  wliere  the  French  were  building  the  fort 
t<>  which  they  gave  the  name  of  Duquesne.  He 
heard  of  th^  approach  of  Villiers,  from  the  Indians, 
\viic>  said,  that  his  followers  wer^  as  numerous  as  the 


1  Auber- 
)poinlcd 

^islature 
Qt  which 
wan  lUen 

[•R  of  his 
urprined 
uoii\illo, 
lie  Great 
e,  m  the 
IS  getitle- 
lie  whole 
piit  came 
r,  having 
elf  at  the 
Y  detach- 

e  Illinois, 
ille,  who 
rty,  who 
imaiid  of 
'eiige  his 

could  be 
iers  des- 

Ohio  — 

place  of 
lecessity, 
nion,  the 
marching 
L  and  the 
g  the  fort 
ne.      He 

Indians, 
ns  as  the 


1754J 


THE  TinUTKKNTll. 


.atb 


'■      1 


pigeons  in  the  woods,  and  was  advised  by  his  offi- 
cers to  march  back  to  Fort  Necessity,  which  was  at 
the  distance  of  thirteen  miles;  he  yielded  to  their  sug- 
gestion. The  party  had  hardly  enteied  the  fort,  when 
Villiers  approached  it,  and  immediately  began  a 
brisk  fire,  and  an  engagement  now  commenced  which 
lasted  from  ten  o'clock  till  dark,  when  the  assailants 
ofK'red  terms  of  capitulation,  which  were  rejected  : 
during  the  night,  however,  articles  were  agreed  upon. 
By  these  Washington  having  obtained  that  his  men 
should  be  allowed  to  return  home  with  their  arms 
and  baggage,  surrendered  the  fort.  This  was  on  the 
now  most  venerated  day,  in  the  American  calendar, 
the  fourth  of  July. 

During  the  summer,  some  soldiers  of  the  garrison  of 
Cat  Island,  rose  upoo  and  killed  Roux,  who  comman- 
ded there.  They  were  exasperated  at  his  avarice 
and  cruelty.  He  employed  them  in  burning  coal,  of 
which  he  made  a  traffic,  and  for  trifling  delinquencies 
had  exposed  several  of  them,  naked  and  tied  to  trees 
in  a  swamp,  during  whole  nights,  to  the  stings  of  mus- 
quetoes.  Joining  some  EngHsh  traders  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Mobile,  they  started  in  the  hope  of 
reaching  Georgia,  through  the  Indian  country.  A 
party  of  the  Choctaws,  then  about  the  fort,  was  sent  af- 
ter and  overtook  them.  One  destroyed  himself;  the 
rest  were  brought  to  New  Orleans,  where  two  were 
broken  on  the  wheel — the  other,  belonging  to  the 
Swiss  regiment  ofKarrer,  was,  according  to  the  law 
of  his  nation,  followed  by  the  officers  of  the  Swiss 
troops  in  the  service  of  France,  sawed  in  two  parts. 
He  was  placed  alive  in  a  kind  of  coffin,  to  the  middle 
of  which  two  sergeants  appliM  a  whip  saw.  It  was 
not  thought  prudent  to  make  any  allowance  for  the 
provocation  thes  -  men  had  received.  The  Indians 
seldom  losing  the  opportunity  of  claiming  remunera- 


!;; 


n 


^ 


JisJG. 


CHAPTER 


[176.1 


tion,  the  Alibamons  made  a  demand  from  Kerlerec, 
for  the  pollution  of  their  land  by  the  self  destruction  of 
a  soldier,  who  had  avoided,  in  this  manner,  the  dire 
fate  that  awaited  him.  He  accordingly  made  them  a 
present. 

In  the  latter  part  of  this  year,  Favrot  was  sent  to 
the  Illinois,  with  four  companies  of  fifty  men  eacli, 
and  a  large  supply  of  provisions  and  ammunition. 

The  Marquis  de  Vaudreuil,  on  his  arrival  at  Que- 
bec, had  received  instructions  to  occupy  and  estab- 
lish forts  in  the  country  to  the  south  of  the  river  St. 
Lawrence. 

In  the  spring,  as  he  was  preparing  to  carry  these 
instructions  into  etiect  the  British  regular  forces  in 
Boston,  with  two  provincial  regiments,  joined  the  gar- 
rison kept  in  Nova  Scotia, — and  landing  on  the 
main,  marched  against  Beausejour,  which  war.  surren- 
dered on  the  fifth  day  ;  and  in  the  summer  possession 
was  taken  of  all  the  posts  of  the  French,  In  the  dis- 
puted territory,  and  every  part  of  Nova  Scotia,  as 
claimed  by  Great  Britain,  was  conquered. 

In  the  cession  of  Acadia,  Louis  the  fourteenth  had 
stipulated  that  his  subjects  there  should  be  allowed 
to  retain  their  land  on  swearing  i  I'egiance  to  Queen 
Anne.  They  had  declined  doing  so  unqualifiedly, 
and  insisted  on  such  a  modification  of  the  formula  pre- 
sented to  them,  as  would  dispense  them  from  the 
obligation  of  turning  their  arms  against  their  country- 
men, in  the  defence  of  the  rights  of  Great  Britain  to 
the  country.  No  oath  had  been  imposed  on  them. 
Although  this  indulgence  had  been  complained  of 
in  England,  no  order  had  been  sent  either  to  require 
an  absolute  oath  of  allegiance  or  to  expel  those  who 
had  refused  to  take  it ;  so  the  Acadians  considered 
themselves  as  neutrals. 

The  vicinity  of  a  country,  with  the   inhabitants  of 


1764] 


TlIK  TMiaTKKNTH 


t?i7 


n-hich,  lliese  people  weic  bo  iiitirna((;ly  coritu*  ted  by 
the  ties  ot'iialure,  fiilogiaiiee  and  national  character, 
who  spoke  the  same  languaj^e  and  professed  the  same 
religion,  prevented  them  from  considering  them- 
selves, as  of  a  different  country,  or  as  sub- 
jects of  a  dillerent  crown.  They  saw  in  the  neigh- 
bouring Canadians  a  band  of  brotliers,  on  whose  as- 
sistance, in  tin  emergency,  they  might  rely,  and  con- 
sidered, themselves  as  equally  bound  to  yield  theirs 
in  returrj.  They  had,  on  every  occasion,  enlisted  theirs 
feelings  their  passions  and  their  forces,  with  these 
neighbours,  and  in  the  late  attack  against  Beause- 
jour,  a  considerable  number  of  them  were  found 
arrayed  against  the  conquerors,  under  the  banner  of 
France. 

Nova  Scotia  is  a  rocky,  barren  country.  The  win- 
ter lasts  seven  months  and  is  of  dreadful  severity;  it 
keeps  the  people  almost  as  lifeless  and  torped  state 
as  their  vegetables.  The  summer  comes  suddenly  (for 
there  is  no  spring)  and  the  heat  is  greater  than  is 
ever  felt  in  England.  Perpetual  logs  render  the 
country  equally  unwholesome  and  unpleasant.  It  pre- 
sented so  few  advantages  to  new  comers  that  the  re- 
moval to  it  of  such  a  number  of  British  subject's,  as 
would  give  them  a  preponderance  over  its  former  in- 
habitants, could  not  soon  be  effected.  The  transpor- 
tation and  maintenance  of  such  a  body  of  regular 
troops,  as  might  keep  the  latter  in  awe,  was  a  measure 
that  must  necessarily  be  attended  with  an  expense 
totally  unproportioned  to  the  benefits,  which  Great 
Britain  could  expect  from  the  possession  of  the  coun- 
try. 

It  appeared  equally  dangerous  to  permit  them  to 
depart  or  stay.  For  it  seemed  certain  that,  if  they 
were  left  at  liberty  to  chuse  the  place  of  their  re- 
•moval.  they  would  §et  down,  a*  nearly  as  they  coujd 


, ,  f,  j, 


Sfrlll 


>fiQ 


Cll.VrTliK 


|l76i 


to  (ho  couDlry  llicy  should  leave,  that  might  could  be 
read)'  to  follow  any  troops,  the  governmcut  of  Canada 
might  send  to  retake  it. 

In  this  dilemma,  it  was  deemed  the  safest  expedi- 
ent to  remove  these  people,  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
lessen  or  destroy,  by  their  division,  the  danger  that 
might  be  apprehended  from  them.  They  were  ac- 
cordingly, at  different  periods,  shipped  oH' in  small 
numbers  to  the  British  provinces  to  the  south  of  New 
Jersey.  This  act  of  severity,  which  the  circum- 
stances were  thought  to  justify,  was  not  the  oidy  one 
that  was  exercised  against  them  ;  their  land  and 
goods  were  taken  from  them  and  they  were  permit- 
ted to  carry  nothing  away,  but  their  household  furni- 
ture and  money ;  ol  the  last  article  few,  very  few  in- 
deed, had  any.  It  was  determined  to  take  from 
them  all  means  of  travelling  back;  and  to  deprive 
them,  even  of  the  least  hope,  as  respects  this,  their 
fields  were  laid  waste  and  their  dwellings  and  fences 
consumed  by  fire. 

Thus  beggared,  these  people  were,  in  small  num- 
bers and  at  difTerent  periods,  cast  on  the  sandy  shores 
of  the  southern  provinces,  among  a  people  of  whose 
language  they  were  ignorant  and  who  knew  not  theirs, 
whose  manners  and  education  were  different  from 
their  own,  whose  religion  they  abhorred  and  who 
were  rendered  odious  to  them,  as  the  friends  and 
countrymen  of  those  who  had  so  cruelly  treated  them, 
and  whom  they  corisidered  as  a  less  savage  foe,  than 
he  who  wields  the  tomahaw  k  and  the  scalping  knife. 

It  is  due  to  the  descendants  of  the  British  colonists, 
to  say  that  their  sires  received  with  humanity,  kind 
ness  and  hospitality  those  who  so  severely  smarted 
under  the  calamities  of  war.  In  every  province,  the 
humane  example  of  the  legislature  of  Pennsylvania, 
was  followed,  and  the  colonial  treasury  was   opened 


I  1 


J 


1756] 


THE  THIRTEENTH. 


819 


to  rolievo  the  suflTorers ;  and  private  charity  was  not 
ouldoric  by  the  public.  Yet,  but  alew  accepted  (be 
prot'cred  rebef  and  sat  down  on  the  land  tbat  wafi 
ollered  tl.«»m. 

Tbe  otbei'H  (led  westerly,  from  wbat  appeared  to 
tbiMn  i  bostile  sboro — wandering  till  tbey  I'ouiid 
tbeinsf'lv  s  out  of sigbt  ofany  wbo  spoke  tbe  Englinh 
Janguac;*  Tbey  crossed  tbe  migbty  spuie  and  winter- 
ed among  tbe  Indians.  Tbe  scattered  parties,  tbrown 
off  on  ifie  coast  of  every  colony  from  Per)nsylvania  to 
Geori>;ia,  united,  and  trusting  tbemselves  to  tbe  wes* 
tern  waters,  sougbt  tbe  land  on  vvbicb  tbe  spotless  ban- 
ner waved,  and  tbe  waves  of  tbe  Mississippi  brougbt 
tlieni  to  New  Orleans. 

Tbe  U^voe  and  square  of  tbat  city  presented,  on 
their  arrival,  a  spectacle  not  unlike  that  tbey  ollered, 
about  a  quarter  of  a  century  before,  on  tbe  landing  of 
tbe  women  and  children  snatched  from  the  bands  of 
tbe  Natchez.  Like  these,  tbe  Acadians  were  greet- 
ed with  tenderness  and  hospitality ;  every  bouse  in 
tbe  city  afforded  a  shelter  to  some  of  these  unfortu- 
nate people.  Charity  burst  open  the  door  of  tbe  clois- 
ter, and  tbe  nuns  ministered  with  profusion  and  cheer- 
fulness to  the  wants  of  tbe  unprotected  of  their  sex. 

Kerlerec  and  AubervilJe  allotted  a  tract  of  land  to 
each  family  :  tbey  were  supplied  with  farming  uten- 
sils at  the  king's  expense,  and  during  tbe  first  year  tlie 
same  rations  were  distributed  to  them  out  of  tbe  king's 
stores,  as  to  tbe  troops.  Ihey  settled  above  tbe  Ger- 
man coast,  on  both  sides  of  the  Mississippi,  and  in 
course  of  time  their  plantations  connected  the  latter 
settlement  with  that  of  Baton  Rouge  and  Pointe  Cou- 
pee. It  is,  at  this  day,  known  by  the  appellation  of 
the  Acadian  coast. 

In  the  meanwhile,  the  British,  under  general  Brad- 
dock,  made  on  fort  Duquesne  an  untmccessfui  attack, 

r.oiJ.  r.  42 


330 


CHAPTER 


[n5t 


d] 


fei' 


in  which  the  commandor  lost  his  Hie.  Oov€(rnor  Shir- 
ley of  Mnssichusetts  failed  also  in  an  attack  against 
Ihv.  fort  of  the  French  at  Nia<^ara,  and  in  his  advance 
to  lake  Ontario.  Colonel  Johnson  of  New  York 
made  likewise  a  vain  attempt  against  Crown  point  on 
lake  Champlain. 

Althoiifjjh  there  had  been  no  actual  declaration  of 
war  between  France  and  Great  Britain,  both  fi^overn- 
mejits  had  granted  letters  of  marque,  and  sent  consi- 
derable forces  to  North  America. 

The  Baron  de  Dieskau,  at  the  head  of  a  small  force 
marched  against  the  British  post  at  Oswego,  but  wag 
overpowered  and  defeated. 

At  last,  on  the  seventeenth  of  May,  George  the  first 
publishi'd  his  drclaiation  of  war. 

This  doeunuMit  sets  forth,  that  the  injurious  pro- 
ceedings of  the  French,  in  the  Weal  Indies  and  North 
America  since  the  peace  of  Aix  la  Chapelle,  and  their 
usurpations  and  encroachments  in  the  Western  he- 
mispliere,  had  been  so  frequent  and  notorious,  that 
they  manifested  a  settled  design,  and  undeviating  re- 
solution of  invariably  piosecuting  the  most  eilicacious 
measures  for  the  advancement  of  their  ambitious 
views,  without  any  regard  for  the  most  solemn  en- 
<£airements  and  treaties. 

The  King  urges  that  his  frequent  and  serious  re- 
presenlations  to  the  cabinet  of  Versailles,  on  these 
n^iterated  acts  of  violence,  and  his  endeavours  to  ob- 
tain sftisfaction  and  reparation  for  the  injuries  sus- 
tained 'oy  his  subjects,  and  to  guard  against  the  re- 
currence of  similar  causes  of  complaint,  have  produ- 
ced nothing  but  assurances  that  every  thing  should  be 
settled  accordiiig  to  existing  treaties,  and  particular 
ly  that  the  evacuation  of  the  four  neutral  inlands 
should  be  effected,  as  had  been  expressly  promised 
to  the   British  ambassador.     Yet,   the  execution  of 


[175V 

rnor  Shir- 
;k  against 
5  advance 
cw   York 

[1  point  on 

laration  of 
111  i^overn- 
ient  consi- 

niall  force 
0,  but  was 

ge  the  first 

irious  pro- 
a)Kl  North 
;,  and  their 
'^estern  he- 
)rious,  that 
jviatinff  re- 
ellicacious 

ambitious 
iolemn  en- 
serious  re- 
5,  on  these 
ours  to  ob- 
njuries  sus- 
jnst  the  re 
lave  produ- 
o;  should  be 

particular 
:ral  isHands 
[y  promised 
icecution  ol 


i. 


176«} 


THE  IllIRTEENTH. 


:y^i 


this  promise  and  the  clause  of  the  treaty  on  which  it 
was  grounded  had  been  eluded,  on  the  most  frivolous 
pretences;  and  the  illicit  practices  of  the  French  go- 
vernment and  its  officers  had  been  carried  to  such  a 
degree,  that  in  April  1754,  they  broke  out  into  open 
hostilities;  and  in  a  moment  of  profourid  peace,  with, 
out  any  previous  remonstrance,  a  body  of  French 
troops  openly  attacked  and  captured  a  British  fort  on 
one  of  the  branches  of  the  Ohio. 

Hostilities  on  the  Ohio,  as  we  have  seen,  had  been 
commenced,  by  the  attack  of  major  Washirjgton  on 
the  party  commanded  by  Jumonville,  in  wliich  the 
latter  fell,  and  the  march  of  Villiers  against  Fort  Ne- 
cessity was  only  a  matter  of  retahation. 

It  is  said,  in  the  manifesto,  that  notwithstanding  this 
act  of  hostility,  which  could  only  be  considered  as  a 
signal  for  war,  so  sincere  was  the  desire  of  the  king  to 
remain  at  peace,  and  so  sanguine  his  hope  that  the 
French  monarch  would  disown  this  act  of  violence 
and  injustice,  that  he  contented  himseli  with  sending 
over  to  America  such  forces  only  as  were  necessary 
to  the  immediate  defence  of  his  subjects,  and  their 
protection  against  new  insults  or  attacks.  But,  in  the 
mean  while,  a  great  naval  armament  was  made  in 
France,  and  a  consi<lerable  number  of  troops  were 
sent  to  Canada;  and  although  the  ambassador  of 
France  gave  the  most  specious  promises  of  the  spee- 
dy arrangement  of  all  existing  dilFerences,  the  real 
design  of  his  court  was  to  gain  time,  in  order  that  such 
reinforcements  might  reach  the  armies  of  France  in 
the  new  world,  as  would  insure  superiority,  and  ena- 
ble their  prince  to  execute  his  unjust  and  ambitious 
projects.  The  king  complains  that  the  measures, 
which  were  required  from  him  by  the  necessity  of 
preventing  the  landing  of  the  French  troops  in  Ame- 
rica, were  followed  by  the  departure  of  tlie  Frencham- 


m 

m 


■CtMp 


1 


f 


m 


*<h' 


i-p 


'I 

■    t 


i  m 


m 


33e 


CHAPTER 


[ilb 


O  I 


bafsador,  the  fortifying  of  Dunkirk,  and  the  gathering 
of  a  considerable  number  of"  armed  mon  on  the  coast 
of  France,  threatening  his  subjects  with  an  invasion. 

He  declares  that,  in  order  to  avert  the  impending 
calamity,  and  provide  for  the  safety  of  his  kingdom, 
he  was  compelled  to  give  orders  for  the  seizure  of 
French  v  ssels.  Yet.  unwilling  to  forego  the  hope,  or 
to  throw  dilliculty  in  the  way,  of  an  amicable  adjust, 
merit,  he  had  expressly  commanded,  that  the  cargoes 
of  these  vessels  should  remain  in  a  state  of  sequestra- 
tion. But,  the  actual  hivasion  of  the  island  of  Minor- 
ca evinced  the  determination  of  the  Frefich  cabinet 
not  to  lend  its  car  to  any  amicable  proposition,  but  to 
prosecute  the  war  it  had  begun,  with  the  utmost  vio- 
lence, and  compel  him  to  abandon  the  system  of  mo- 
deration, in  which  he  had  so  long  persisted. 

Vast  preparations  were  made,  underthe  directions 
of  the  Earl  of  Loudoun,  who  had  succeeded  General 
Abercrombie  in  the  chief  command  of  the  king's  for- 
ces in  North  America.  A  considerable  number  of 
troops  were  raised  in  the  New  England  provinces,  and 
in  those  of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  and  lesser 
bodies  were  procured  in  the  southern  provinces  for 
the  campaign  of  the  next  year. 

In  the  meanwhile,  the  Marquis  de  Montcalm  had 
arrived  in  Canada  and  taken  the  command  of  the  for- 
ces of  France. 

The  earl,  notwithstanding  his  great  preparations, 
did  not  strike  any  blow — the  marquis  with  far  less 
means  was  more  successful.  In  the  month  ot  August, 
he  made  himself  master  of  Fort  Oswego :  this  post, 
situated  at  the  mouth  of  Onondago  river,  commanded 
a  commodious  harbour  on  lake  Ontario.  It  had  been 
erected  by  Governor  Shirley,  with  a  view  to  the  pro- 
tection of  the  country  of  the  five  nations,  the  security 
of  the  fur  trade,  the  obstruction  of  the  communica- 


[\lb\ 


use) 


THE  THIRTEENTH. 


33^5 


leathering 
the  coast 
iivasion. 
(ipending 
kingdom, 
eizure  ol 
'  hope,  or 
le  adjust. 
?  cargoes 
[^queritra- 
A'  Minor- 
I  cabinet 
)n,  but  to 
most  vlo- 
tm  of  mo- 

lirections 
t  General 
ing's  for- 
imber  of 
rices,  and 
id  lesser 
inces  for 

:alm  had 
if  the  for- 

•arations, 
I  far  less 
t  August, 
this  post, 
imanded 
lad  been 
the  pro- 
security 
imunica- 


W~i 


tion  between  the  French  establishments,  and  to  open 
a  way  for  ihe  British  forces  to  Niagara  and  Kort 
Frontenrjc.  Montcalm's  military  means  not  allowing 
him  to  keep  it,  he  ordered  the  British  fort  to  l>e  razed, 
and  told  the  Indians,  his  views  were  not  hostile  to 
them — became  into  the  country  for  their  protection: 
he  wished  no  strong  house  to  keep  them  in  awe  :  his 
nation  desired  only  to  live  in  peace,  trade  with  them 
and  protect  them  against  their  enemies,  who  were 
those  of  the  French. 

The  marquis  met  with  an  equal  success  in  the  at- 
tack of  Fort  William  Henry  on  lakeChamplain,  which 
surrendered  in  the  beginning  of  August. 

This  year,  Auberville  died  and  was  succeeded  in 
the  oiTice  of  commissary  ordonnateur  of  Louisiana  by 
Bo  be  Descloseaux. 

The  tide  of  events  turned  against  France  in  the 
following  year.  The  British  took  the  islands  of  Cape 
Breton  and  St.  John,  and  razed  Fort  Frontenac  on 
lake  Ontario,  during  the  summer,  fn  the  lall  gene- 
ral l^orbes  marched  against  Fort  Duquesne;  the 
French  commander,  finding  himself  unable  to  defend 
it,  embarked  his  artillery  and  ammunition,  sat  fire  to 
the  buildings  and  evacuated  it.  h\  the  latter  part  of 
November,  the  garrison  floated  down  the  Ohio  and 
Mississippi  to  Ndw  Orleans. 

In  their  way,  they  stopped  and  built  a  fort,  on  the 
right  bank  of  the  former  stream,  not  far  from  the 
place  at  which  it  falls  into  the  latter.  It  was  called 
Fort  Massac,  after  the  officer,  who  was  left  to  attend 
to  i(S  erection  and  to  command  it. 

On  the  arrival  oi'the  forces  from  Fort  Duquesne 
at  New  Orleans,  new  buiUlings  were  required  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  troops, and  Kerlerec  began  Ihe 
barracks  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city. 

Although  the  essay,  which   the  Jesuits  had  made 


f( 


11 


"SS-i 


CIHAPTER. 


[175P 


in  1751,  to  naturalise  the  sugar  cane  in  Louisi- 
ana, had  been  successful,  the  culture  of*  it,  on  a.  hrire 
scale,  was  not  attempted  till  this  year,  when  Duhrciil 
erected  a  mill  for  the  manufac'ture  of  su^av.  on  his 
plantation,  immediately  adjoining  the  lower  part  of 
New  Orleans — the  spot  now  covered  by  the  subui  b 
Marigny. 

Kerlerec,  liaving  been  directed  to  have  the  pari  of 
the  province,  around  lake  Barataria  and  alon*/-  he 
sea  shore,  west  of  the  Mississippi,  explored.  Ai.jr .',  y 
de  Mandeville,  a  son  of  the  late  commandant  of  ■  urt 
Conde  of  Mobile,  made  an  accurate  map  o*  the  soniU- 
westernpart  of  the  province. 

Overtures  towards  negociation  were  made  by  'he 
cabinet  of  Versailles,  to  that  of  St.  James,  tfnoiigh 
the  channel  of  the  Danish  anihassodor  in  Lou'lon. 

Rochemore,  wfio  had  beesi  ippoluif^d  commissary 
ordonnateur,  arrived  early  in  the  following  year.  Soon 
after  his  landing,  an  unfortunate  misunderstaTuJipg, 
between  him  andKerlerec, disturbed  greatly  the  tra«»- 
quillity  of  the  colony.  It  was  then  the  practice  of 
government  to  send  large  quantities  of  goods,  for  the 
Indian  trade :  they  were  entrusted  to  the  officers 
sent  in  command  to  the  distant  posts,  to  whom  they 
furnished  the  means  of  considerably  increasing  their 
fortunes.  The  ordonnateur,  who  had  the  disposal  of 
these,  found  in  it  an  opportunity  of  attaching  those 
officers  to  his  party,  which  the  governor  complain- 
ed, he  did  not  neglect.  Each  of  these  chiefs  imagin- 
ed he  had  grounds  of  recrimination  against  the  other; 
a  considerable  degree  of  irritation  was  excited,  and 
a  circumstance  of  no  great  moment  brought  matters 
to  a  crisis. 

Diaz  Anna,  a  Jew  from  Jamaica,  came  to  New  Or- 
leans, on  a  trading  voyage.  We  have  seen  that  by 
an  edict  of  the  month  of  March  1724,  that  of  Louie 


I  Louisi- 
n  0.  Iru-y-e 
Dulire'jil 

IV.  (>\]  his 
V  part  of 
e  subiM'b 


1759] 


THE  THIRTEENTH. 


33S 


nr 


I  of 
lie 


IP  p 
iloii^'" 

M ;.<!•-;.;  y 

t   ol   :   vM't 

lie  souiii- 

[ie  bv  'he 
.  through 
)H'!oa. 
miiiissary 
our.  Soon 
•«taii!!ipj£, 
the  trau- 
ractiee  of 
s,  for  the 
e  officers 
horn  they 
iiig  their 
isposal  of 
ing  those 
lomplain- 
fs  imagin- 
be  other; 
ited,  and 
it  matters 

New  Or- 

that  by 

of  Louie 


I;c1 


the  thirteenth,  of  the  13th  of  April,  161  r>,  had  been 
extended  to  Louisiana.  The  latter  edict  declared 
that  Jews,  as  enemies  of  the  christian  name,  should 
not  be  allowed  to  reside  in  Louisiana ;  and,  if  they 
staid  in  spite  of  the  edict,  their  bodies  and  goods 
should  be  confiscated:  Rochemore  had  the  vessel  of 
the  Israelite  and  her  cargo  seized.  Kerlerec  sent 
soKliers  to  drive  away  the  guard  put  on  board  the 
vessel,  and  had  her  restored  to  the  Jew.  Imagining 
he  had  gone  too  far  to  stop  there,  he  had  Belot, 
Rocheaiore's  secretary,  and  Marigny  de  Mandeville, 
de  Lahoupe,  Bossu  and  some  other  officers,  whom  he 
suspected  to  have  joined  the  ordonnateur's  party,  ar- 
rested, and  a  few  days  after  shipped  them  for  France. 
He  entrusted  Grandmaison,  an  officer  who  having 
obtained  a  furlough  had  taken  his  passage  in  the  ves- 
sel, on  board  of  w  hich  these  persons  were  placed, 
with  his  despatches  for  the  minister,  containing  the 
reasons  which,  in  his  opinion,  justified  this  violent 
measure. 

As  tlie  vessel  approached  the  coast  of  France,  she 
was  driven  by  a  storm  on  that  of  Spain  and  entered 
the  port  of  St.  Sebastian.  Grandmaison,  according 
to  Kerlerec's  instructions,  went  to  deposit  the  des- 
patches in  the  hands  of  the  consul  of  France.  Belot 
and  his  companions  in  misfortune  accompanied  the 
messenger  to  the  consulate.  The  despatches  being 
delivered  were  placed  on  a  table,  from  which  it  is 
Bupposed  they  were  purloined  by  one  of  the  consul's 
visitors,  while  he  was  attending  on  the  others,  whose 
attention  had  been  drawn  to  some  fine  engravings  on 
the  walls  of  the  apartment. 

On  their  arrival  in  Paris,  Belot  and  his  associates 
filled  the  court  with  their  complaints  of  Kerlerec's  ar- 
bitrary proceedings.     He  was  universally  blamed. 

During  the  summer,  the  most  rapid  success  atteri- 


336 


CHAPTER 


[176* 


d^d  the  British  forces  in  Canada.  They  possessed 
themselves  of  Ticonderoga  on  the  22d  of  July,  of 
Crown  point,  in  the  beginning  of  August,  of  Niagara 
on  the  24th,  and  ol  Quebec  on  the  eighteenth  of  Sep- 
tember. 

In  the  following  year,  they  found  themselves  mas- 
ters of  all  Canada,  by  the  reduction  of  Montreal. 

On  the  eleventh  of  August,  Ferdinand  the  sixth  of 
Spain  died,  in  the  fifty-sixth  year  of  his  age,  witfiout 
issue.  He  was  succeeded  by  Charles  the  third,  his 
brother,  then  king  of  Naples,  the  third  son  of  Philip 
the  fifth,  who  wielded  the  Spanish  sceptre. 

George  the  second  of  Great  Britain  ended  his  life, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  seventy-seven  years ;  on  the 
twenty-fifth  of  October ;  he  was  succeeded  by  George 
the  third,  his  grandson. 

On  the  fall  of  Canada,  a  number  ot  the  colonists, 
unwilling  to  live  under  their  conquerors,  sought  the 
vtrarm  clime  over  which  the  spotless  banner  still 
waved ;  most  ot  them  settled  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
the  Acadians.  Others  of  a  more  roving  disposition 
crossed  the  lakes  that  separate  the  right  bank  of  the 
Mississippi  from  the  western  prairies  and  began 
the  settlements  of  Attakapas,  Opelousas  and  Avo- 
yelles. 

The  province  was  at  this  time  inundated  by  a  tlood 
of  paper  money.  The  administration,  for  several 
years  past,  had  paid  in  due  bills  all  the  supplies  they 
had  obtained,  and  they  had  been  suffered  to  accu- 
malate  to  an  immense  amount.  A  consequent  depre- 
ciation had  left  them  almost  without  any  value.  This 
had  been  occasioned,  in  a  great  degree,  by  a  belief 
that  the  officers  who  had  put  these  securities  afloat, 
had.  at  times,  atterded  more  to  their  own.  than  to  the 
public  interest,  and  that  the  French  government,  on 
the  discevery  of  this,  would  not  perhaps  be  found  rea~ 


July,  of 
Niagara 
I  ol  Sep- 

r^es  mas- 

eal. 

sixth  of 
without 

bird,  his 

»f  Philip 

I  his  life, 

on   the 

r  George 

•olonists, 
•ught  the 
iiier  still 
irliood  of 
^position 
k  of  the 
il  began 
nd  Avo- 

y  a  Hood 
several 
les  they 
o  accu- 
it  depre- 
ue.  This 
a  belief 
afloat, 
an  to  the 
uent,  on 
und  rea- 


1*760] 


THE  THIRTEENTH. 


•337 


dy  to  i?)demnify  the  hohlers  against  the  misconduct 
of  its  agf'nts.  With  a  vieu,  Itowever,  lo  prepare  the 
AV'.iy  for  the  redemption  of  ihe  paper,  (he  colonial 
tn'asurer  was  directed  lo  receive  all  that  might  he 
prescntefl,  and  to  give  in  its  stead  certificates,  in 
order  that  the  extent  of  the  evil  being  known,  the 
remedy  iDight  be  applied. 

The  disastrous  situation  of  the  marine  of  France 
precluding  the  itope  of  recovering  any  part  ol  her  lost 
territory,  in  America,  the  Duke  of  (hoiseuil.  who, 
without  the  title,  exercised  (he  functions  of  prime 
minister,  made  an  attoiupt  at  ne^ociation  with  Great 
B>'itain.  The  coiit"orenc«^s  began  on  the  tweiity.eiglith 
of  March,  but  were  closed  soon  after  without  success. 
Disappointed  in  this  quarter,  he  foiincd  (he  plan  of 
joining  the  marine  of  Spain  to  that  of  France,  and 
tliis  was  the  end  of  the  family  compact,  which  was 
signed  at  l^aris,  on  the  fifteenth  of  August. 

The  avowed  ohject  of  this  arrangenient  was  to  give 
permanence  and  inviolability  to  the  obligations  result- 
ing  from  the  friendship  and  consanguinity  of  the  sover- 
eigns of  France  and  Spain,  and  to  rear  up  a  solemn 
monument  ofthe  reciprocal  interest  which  was  the  ob- 
ject of  their  wishes,  arid  insure  the  continuance  of 
the  prosperity  of  their  royal  family. 

They  agree  to  consider,  in  future,  any  power  at  war 
with  either  of  them,  as  acomni  »n  enemy,  they  recip- 
rocally guarantee  to  each  other  his  respective  domin- 
ions, in  every  part  of  the -orld  ;  but,  it  is  expressly 
stated  that  this  guarantee  is  to  have  no  other  object, 
than  the  respective  dominions  of  each  crown,  as  they 
may  exist  at  the  first  period  of  peace,  with  the  other 
powers. 

A  like  guarantee  is  to  be  extended  to  the  King  of 
the  two  Sicilies  and  the  Duke  of  Faniia,  on  their  res- 
pective accession  to  the  compact. 

LOU.  I.  43 


1  ij  I 


^.1 


3S8 


CHAPTER 


1.1701 


Although  the  mutual  guarantee  Is  to  be  supported 
within  tho  Ibrcesof  th«'  parties,  they  stipulate  that 
the  first  succour  to  be  t'urnished  is  to  consist  of  a 
given  number  of  ships,  fiorse  and  foot. 

The  wars,  which  the  French  king  may  be  engaged 
in,  in  consequence  of  his  engagements,  at  the  treaty  of 
Westphaha,  or  his  alliances  with  German  princes, 
are  exempted  from  the  compact,  unless  a  maritime 
power  takes  part  in  them,  or  his  dominions  are  at- 
tacked. 

The  stipulated  succour  is  to  be  considered  as  the 
minimum  of  what  the  required  parly  is  bound 
to  do  ;  and  it  is  the  understanding  of  the  parties,  that 
on  a  declaration  of  war  against  either,  it  is  to  be 
considered  as  common  to  the  other.  They  shall 
jointly  exert  all  their  means  :  and  mranocments  will 
be  made  relative  to  a  common  plan  and  the  respec- 
tive efforts  of  the  parties,  according  to  circum- 
stances. 

No  proposition  of  peace  from  the  common  enemy 
shall  be  listened  to,  without  the  joint  consent  ol 
each  party,  who  in  peace  and  in  war,  shall  consider  the 
interest  of  the  other  as  his  own :  all  losses  and  ad- 
vantages are  to  be  compensated  and  the  two  parties 
are  to  act,  as  if  they  tbrmed  but  one. 

The  king  of  Spain  stipulates  for  that  of  the  two 
Sicilies  and  engages  to  procure  his  accession  to  the 
compact. 

The  droit  ctaubaine  is  abolished,  in  favour  of  the 
subjects  of  the  parties,  and  they  are  to  enjoy  the  ad- 
vantages and  inmuuiities  of  national  subjects. 

The  powers,  with  whom  either  party  may  make  a 
treaty,  shall  be  inlbrmed  that  these  advantages  and 
immunities  are  not  to  be  extended  to  others. 

At  the  close  of  the  year,  Rochmore  went  over  to 
France.     His  conduct  was  approved  by  the  minister, 


17C3J 


THE  TIIIRTKENTII 


33;t 


and  orders  were  sent  to  Kerlerec,  on  the  following 
year,  to  return  and  give  an  account  of  his  :  F'oucault 
was  sent  to  succeed  Rochmore. 

Early  the  next  year,  the  sovereigns  of  Great  Britain 
and  Spain  published  formal  declarations  of  war 
against  each  other.  The  success  of  the  British  arms, 
in  the  West  Indies,  were  as  rapid  and  brilliant,  as 
they  had  been  in  Canada,  in  1759.  Martinico,  Gren- 
ada, St.  Lucia  and  all  the  other  Caribee  islands  were 
conquered  from  France,  and  the  city  of  Havana 
from  Spain. 

On  the  third  of  November,  a  secret  treaty  was 
signed  at  Paris,  between  the  F'rench  and  Spanish 
king,  by  which  the  former  ceded  to  the  latter  the 
part  of  the  province  of  Louisiana,  which  lies  on  the 
western  side  oi'  the  Mississippi,  with  the  city  of 
New  Orleans  and  the  island  on  which  it  stands. 

The  war  between  Great  Britain,  France  and  Spain 
was  terminated  by  the  treaty  of  Paris,  on  the  sixteenth 
of  February  of  the  following  year. 


Marshal,  Fergennes,  Bossu,  Archives,  Gmettes. 


I'rrf 

I'll! 


r:ri; 


■MO 


ciiaptp:r 


\no{i 


CHAPTER  XfV. 


Trcnlif  of  f*aris. — East  am/  fTrvf  llorkla. — (jlnvcrnoy 
Johnston. — Prnsacola. — Afohi/r.  and  Fort  '/'oulousc. — 
Indian  allies  of  ihc  French. — d\  Ibadin. — Major  Loftns. 
— Raton  fiou<re. — JVatchez. —  Feliciana. — Manshac. — 
Petit  Manslwc. — 'J he  /kind's  Icltrr. — Consternation  of 
the  colonists. — General  tnectin<j:. — PidAic  securities. — 
Jerin  Jlilh'^.f. — Sugar  jthuHers. — Dissenfions  in  the  Hri- 
tish  provinces. — .'Inbry. —  f-*i rates  in  the  Hest  India  sras. 
— Miulamc  Dcsnoycys. —  llloa. — Introduction  of  ,d/ri- 
can  ncirroes. — Census. —  Fort  Bute. — .//  i^eruvian  la- 
dy.— Spanish  troops. — .NVw  forts. — Groat  cold. —  Ge- 
neral meeting. — t^rtilion  to  the  council. —  'Fhouijhts  of 
resistance. — Jiid  asked  from  Govcnmr  Flliot — F/ecrcc 
of  the  council. —  Ulloa  cmbarhs. —  The  cublrs  of  ihr  ,-hip 

he  ivas  in   cut. General  meetinir. — .//  dcpn/ition  to 

France. — Spanish  troops  d/'stin^.d  for  I.ouisiand.  arrive 
at  the  Havana. — LJrissa. — III  success  oftliedrputatinn. — 
Edict  rclatin<^  to  paper  securities. — .'llternate  hopes  and 
fears. — c//  Spanish  fleet  arrives  at  the  hahze. — O'/irif- 
hfs  mcssofrc. — Toicn  nicrtimr. — ./]  deputation  is  sent. — 
The.  fears  of  thr  iidiahitentls  subside. —  The  Spanish  fleet 
reaches  jVew  Orleans. — O'Reilly  lands  and  ta/ccsj/osses- 
si  on. 

BY  the  treat  V  of  Parish,  (ho  kinsj  of  Franco  renouri- 
oed  his  ju-oloiilioMS  to  Nova  Scotia  or  Acadio,  and 
i^uafanteod  tlie  vvhoh'  olit,  witli  its  dopondencios,  to 
the  king  o(  Groat  Britain;  to  \\Uo\n  he  ceded  and  gua- 
ranteed in  full  riglit  Canada,  with  all  its  dependen. 
cies,  as  well  as  the  island  of  Cape  Breton  and  all  the 
other  islands  and  coasts,  in  tl^e  river  and  gulf  of  St. 
Tiawreuce. 


i76:«l 


TIIK  FOIJRTEKNTU. 


341 


The  limits,  l)rtvvroM  the  FroDcli  nnd  British  posses- 
sions ill  iNoi'lh  Ainc'ic!)  urr  fixed  incvorahl)'  hy  ;»  line 
dnnvn  .'»loii<i-  thr  middle  ol  llw  river  Mississippi,  from 
ilssDiirt'e  lo  llie  riv<'r  llMM-villo;  and  from  thence  hy  a 
line  ill  the  middle  olthal  stream  and  lakes  JVlaurepa* 
and  i'onlch  irtiaiii  to  the  sea. 

The  kinji-  ol"  I'  ranee  cedes  lo  that  of  Great  Britain 
the  river  an<l  port  ol' Mobile,  and  ever^  thin^-  posses- 
sed hy  him  on  the  lell  si(l<'  ollhe  river  Mississippi,  ex. 
cepi  the  town  ol'Aeu  t)rleaiis  and  the  islaii<l  on  which 
it  stands. 

'f'he  navif^ation  of  the  Mississippi  is  declared  free 
to  th(^  suhjects  of  either  s(  v;'reii;n,inits  whole  breadth 
and  length,  from  its  source  to  the  sea;  and  it  is  ex- 
pressly stipulated  that  vessels  holoii«^iiig  to  subjects 
of  either,  shall  not  be  stopped,  visited,  or  subject  to 
any  duij. 

The  British  kino;  promises  to  allow  the  inhabitants 
of  Canada,  the  free  exercise  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
relif^ion,  and  to  give  the  most  precise  and  eHective 
orders  t' at  his  new  Roman  Catholic  subjects  may  ex- 
ercise their  religion,  according  to  its  rites,  in  as  much 
as  is  permitted  by  the  laws  of  Great  Britain. 

P^lighteen  months  are  allowed  to  the  inhabitants  to 
sell  their  property  to  l^rilisii  subjects,  and  withdraw 
wherever  they  please. 

The  same  rights  are  granted  to  the  inhabitants  ol 
the  ceded  part  of  Louisiana. 

The  king  of  Spain  cedes  to  that  of  Great  Britain 
the  province  of  Florida  w  ith  the  lort  of  St.  Augustine 
and  the  bay  oi  Pensacola,  as  well  as  all  the  country  he 
possesses  on  the  continent  of  Norlh  America,  to  the 
east  and  southeast  of  the  river  Mississippi. 

We  have  seen  that  all  tlie  part  of  Louisiana,  not  ce- 
ded to  Great  Britain,  had   already  been  yielded  to 


il!' 


k 


34« 


ciiArrtK 


[170v 


Spain;   so  llmt  France  did   not  retain  one  inch  oi 
ground  in  North  America. 

The  coiHjiiered  ishinds  wer(;  restored  to  FVance 
and  Spain. 

The  island  of  (Irenada  and  its  dependencies  were 
ceded  by  the  kin^^ofFrance  to  (hat  olCireat  Britain. 

The  islands  called  neutrals  uere;  divided,  hnl  not 
etjualiy;  those  ofSt.  Vincent,  Dominica  arid  Tol>iio;o, 
heingyielded  loGreat  Britain,  and  dial  ot  St.  Lucia  to 
France. 

Clement  the  tliirteenth  having  expelled  the  Jesuits 
from  the  dominions  ot'the  kings  ol"  I*' ranee,  Spi>in  and 
Naples  these  monks  were  now  driven  from  '  ouisia- 
na,  and  in  the  month  ol.Iuly  their  property,  near  New 
Orleans,  was  taken  iulo  the  king's  liands  and  sold,  un- 
der a  decree  of  the  superior  council.  It  produced 
ahout  one  hundred  and  eighty  ihouKjuid  dollars. 

On  the  seventh  of  October,  I70.'j,  the  king  of  Great 
Britain  divided  his  acquisitions  in  North  America  in- 
to three  distinct  governments;  those  of  Quebec,  and 
East  and  West  Florida. 

All  the  coast  from  the  river  St.  John  to  Hudson''s 
streights,  with  the  islands  of  Anticosti  and  Madeleine, 
and  all  other  small  islands  on  that  coast,  were  pui  un- 
der the  care  and  inspection  of  the  government  of 
New  Foundland. 

The  islands  of  St.  John,  Cape  Breton,  with  the  les- 
ser ones  adjacent  thereto,  were  annexed  to  the  pro- 
vince of  Nova  Scotia. 

The  land  between  the  rivers  St.  Mary  and  Alta- 
maha  was  annexed  to  the  province  of  Georgia. 

The  part  of  the  territory  acquired  from  Spain,  ad- 
joining Louisiana,  was  erected  into  a  separate  pro. 
vince,  called  West  Florida :  it  was  bounded  on  the 
south  by  the  gulf  of  Mexico,  including  all  islands 
within  six  leagues  of  the  sea  coast  from  the  river  Apa- 


I 


inch  oi 

1  FVance 

•i(«s  wrrt' 
I  Hrltain. 
I,  bill  not 
T()l»;iiIo, 
,  Lucia  \o 

\v  Ji'siiitsj 
5|)ij'm  and 
I  I  ouisia- 
nein-  New 
]  ^oltl,  uu- 
produced 
liars. 

g  of  G  real 
merica  in- 
lebec,  and 

Hudson's 
ladcleiiie, 
re  put  u li- 
niment of 

th  the  les- 
o  tlie  pro- 

aiid  Alta- 
r'-        A 

bpam,  ad- 
arate  pro. 
Rd  on  the 
ill  islands 
:iver  Apa- 


»7«4| 


THK  I'OdRTKEiNTil 


J4v 


lacliicola  to  lake  ('onlcliartrain — on  the  ucst  by  thai 
hikr,  lake  iMaincpas  and  the  river  MissiuHippi — on 
the  north,  b}  a  line  drawn  due  ejisl  Croni  a  point  in 
the  middle  ol  thai  river,  in  the  thirty-lirst  ile^ree  of 
northern  latitude  to  the  river  Apalaehieola  or  ('ata- 
hon(!he,  and  to  the  east  by  that  riv<'r. 

In  the  mean  while,  (Jeor<i;<'  Johnston,  a  captain  in 
the  royal  navy,  appoint<Ml  jrovtMiior  of  the  prov- 
ince of  West  riorida,  arrived  at  IVnsacola  with  ma- 
jor Lol'tus,  who  was  to  command  at  the  Illinois.  They 
were  ac(-ompanied  by  a  considerable  number  of  high- 
landers  from  New  York  and  Charleston.  Deta(;h- 
ments  of  these  were  sent  to  take  possession  of  Fort 
Conde,  Fort  Toulouse,  Baton  Konaje  and  the  Natch- 
ez. 

Fort  Conde  was  now  called  Fort  Charlotte,  in  com- 
pliment totheyoun^  «(ueen  of  Gr(;at  Britain. 

Most  of  the  Indians,  in  alliance  with  the  French, 
followed  the  white  banner  to  New  Orleans,  on  its  be- 
ing lowered  in  the  forts  of  the  ceded  tiirritory  ;  lands 
were  allotted  to  them  on  the  western  side  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi. 

In  the  fall,  Kerlerec  was  recalled;  and  the  chief  ma- 
gistrficy  of  the  province  vested  in  d'Abadie,  under 
the  title  of  director-general.  The  military  force  was 
reduced  to  three  hundred  men,  divided  into  six  com- 
panies, under  the  orders  of  Aubry,  as  senior  captain. 

Kerlerec's  conduct  was  highly  disapproved  ot  in 
France :  he  was  contined,  tor  some  time,  in  the  Bas- 
tile,  and  died  of  grief  shortly  after  his  release. 

Major  Loftus,  who  commanded  the  twenty-s'econd 
regiment,  came  from  Pensacola  to  New  Orleans,  on 
his  way  to  the  Illinois,  early  in  1764.  He  proceeded 
up  the  river,  on  the  27th  of  February,  with  a  detach- 
ment of  the  thirty-fourth,  who  had  been  employed  in 
reconnoitreing  the  river  Iberville.      His  ivhole  force, 


au 


CIJA1»TKR 


[17(J4 


eoiisistiiig  ot" about  four  hundred  men,  was  ombarkrd 
in  ten  batteaux  oUroin  sixteen  to  twenty  oars  each  and 
two  canoes.  They  reached  the  heio;hts  now  called 
Fort  Adams,  then  La  roehe  a  Davion.  in  three  weeks. 

In  the  inoriiinoj  of  the  twentieth  oi'  IMareh.  the  two 
canoes  beii'ij:  a  little  a  head  of  the  major's  hatteau, 
and  close  to  the  riiijht  b  uik.  which  was  covered  with 
brush,  a  volley  uas  rn(Hl  on  them  and  three  privates 
were  killed  and  one  wounded  in  the  first  caeoe  and 
one  se:i:;e;nit  and  two  privates  wounded  and  two  pri- 
vates killed  in  the  second.  The  boats  goina;  back 
with  the  stream,  and  there  beinir  no  possilnliJy  of 
landing  on  that  side,  the  river  having  overflowed  its 
banks,  the  major  ordered  his  small  fleet  on  the  op- 
posite shore, and  as  he  approaclied,  received  a  second 
volley.  Both  sides  of  the  river  appearing  strongly 
guarded  by  tlie  Indians  and  the  stream  narrow,  he  de- 
termined on  descending  the  river  and  takiiifj;  post  for 
the  present  at  bayou  Manshac.  The  mount,  neav 
which  the  party  was  tired  on,  was  afterwards  called 
Loftus's  heights. 

Having  at  disembarked  bayou  Manshac  and  re- 
connoitred the  ground,  major  Loftus  thought  it 
better  to  return  to  New  Orleans,  where  findins:  a  brio 
ready  to  sail  for  Pcnsacola,  he  took  passage  in  her; 
his  men  floated  dow  n  in  their  batteaux,  to  the  Balize, 
except  a  captain  and  twenty  men  of  the  twenty- 
second  regiment,  whom  he  ordered  to  proceed  by  the 
lakes  to  Mobile. 

As  they  were  ready  to  start  dWbadie  received 
information  that  sixty  Indians  of  the  C'olapissa  tribe 
from  the  western  side  of  lake  Pontchartrain  were 
preparing  to  irjtercept  the  batteaux  in  the  rigolets. 

The  captain  represented  to  tin;  Fren(;h  cjiief  that 
major  Loftus  had  departed  fully  suspecting  that 
the  French  Imd  prevailed  ou  the  Indians  to  prevent 


[17G4 

mbarkrd 
each  and 
)\v  called 
30  wf't'ks. 
,  the  two 
i  hatteaii, 
:red  with 

piivates 
:ai'oe  and 

two  pi'i- 
oiiifi^  back 
^i  hi  111)'  ot" 
•(lowed  its 
on  the  op- 
I  a  yecond 
r  stroi'gly 
-)\\,  he  de- 
^  post  for 
Hint,  neav 
irds  called 

ic  and  re- 
ought    it 

ing;  a  brig 

ye  in  her; 
le  Balize, 
twenty- 

ced  by  the 

received 
)issa  tribe 
ain  were 
ii;olets. 
ciiief  that 
ting  that 
o  prevent 


1764] 


THE  FOURTEENTH. 


.;i4.. 


his  ascent  of  the  river  to  the  Illinois,  and  an  attack  of 
the  Indians,  who  were  known  to  be  in  the  interest  of 
the  Trench,  would  not  tail  to  increase  fhe  suspicion. 
DWbadie  proposed  <o  send  an  olficer,  with  a  de- 
tachment to  escort  the  i^ritish.  This  was  declined, 
and  an  interpreter,  acquainted  with  the  lurking  places 
of  the  Indians,  was  sent  forward  to  assure  them  the 
Briiisli  wishi  i"  'o  live  in  peace  and  friendshij)  with 
thetn;  and  wuuiu  treat  them  as  brethren.  The  Cap- 
tain and  his  in<Mi  reached  Mobile  safely,  orj  (h.;  fifth 
of  April. 

The  Indians,  who  tired  on  the  British  force  up  the 
river,  were  parties  of  the  Tunicas,  Oumas,  Cheti- 
machas  and  Yazous. 

Or»  the  twenty-third  of  March,  the  lords  commissi- 
oners of  trade  and  plantations,  in  Great  Britain, 
represented  to  the  king  that  it  appeared  from  obser- 
vations and  surveys,  made  since  the  province  of  West 
Florida  was  in  his  possession,  that  there  were  consi- 
derable settlements  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Mississip- 
pi, above  the  thirty-first  degree  of  northern  latitude, 
and  recommended  that  the  northern  boundary  of  the 
province  of  West  Florida  should  be  a  line  drawn 
from  the  mouth  of  the  river  of  the  Yazous,  running 
due  west  to  tlie  river  Apalachicola.  Accordingly,  on 
the  tenth  of  June,  a  new  commission  was  issued  to  go- 
vernor Johnston,  extending  thus  the  limits  of  his  go- 
vernment. 

During  the  summer,  a  large  detachment  occupied 
Fort  Rosalie  of  Natchez. 

In  the  mean  while,  British  vessels  began  to  visit  the 
lower  banks  of  the  Mississippi — after  passing  New 
Orleans,  they  cast  anchor,  made  fast  to  a  tree  above 
it,  opposite  the  present  suburb  Latayette,  where  tlie 
people  of  the   city  and    neighbouring    plantation^' 


ffl 
li 


tV 


h 


I' 


ili 


LOU.  I. 


44 


340 


ClIAPTKR 


|^176'1 


came  to  trade  n  ith  them.  The  spot,  at  Avhicli  the;^ 
stopped  on  their  way  up  the  river,  uisder  the  pre- 
tence of  goirjj^  to  bayou  Maushac  and  Baton  Rouge, 
received  the  appcUalion  of  Litth.>  Manshac.  The 
Avantsot'the  colony  induced  its  chietto  overlook  and 
tolerate  the  illegal  trallic — extremely  advantageous 
to  the  colonists,  whose  honesty  and  good  faith  render- 
ed it  e(|ually  so  to  their  visitors. 

The  colofiists  hegan  now  to  be  distressed  by  ru- 
mours from  France  of  their  approaching  passage  un- 
der the  yoke  of  Spain.  These  tears  were  realized  early 
inOctober,  whenoflicia  lintelligenceofthecession  was 
received  by  d'Abadio,  in  a  letter  of  his  sovereign, 
bearing  date  the  tirst  of  April  precedii'g. 

In  this  document,  the  king,  after  announcing  the 
cession  to  the  ilircctor  general  (copies  of  the  treaty 
and  ifs  acceptance  being  iiulosed)  manifests  his  in- 
tention, that,  on  the  receipt  of  the  letter  and  its  in- 
closures,  whether  it  be  delivered  him  by  any  Spanish 
officer,  or  brought  by  any  French  vessel,  immediate 
possession  should  be  delivered  to  the  governor, 
or  any  other  officer  of  the  Catholic  king,  of  the  city 
of  New  Orleans  and  the  rest  of  the  ceded  territory ; 
it  being  the  object  of  the  cession  that  the  country 
should  in  future  balong  to  the  latter  sovereign,  and 
be  ruled  and  administered  by  his  governor  or  chief 
otiicer,  as  being  his,  in  full  property  and  without  re- 
serve. 

D'Abadie  is  accordingly  instructed,  on  the  arrival 
of  the  Spanisii  otlicers  and  troops,  after  liaving  yield- 
ed possession,  to  withdraw  with  all  the  otfrers,  sol- 
diers and  other  persons,  in  the  service  of  France, 
who  may  not  be  desirous  of  remaining,  and  alTord 
them  a  passage  to  son»e  of  the  king's  dominions  m 
Europe  or  the  West  Indies. 


I7»M] 


THE  FOURTEENTH. 


347 


He  is  (lircctcd,  immodiatolv  after  the  evacuation? 
to  collect  all  papers,  relative  to  the  finances,  and  the 
administration  of  the  province,  and  to  return  and 
give  an  account  of  his  proceedini^s;  delivering  how- 
ever, to  the  governor  or  other  o/Iicer  of  the  Spanish 
king,  such  papers,  as  may  especially  relate  to  the  af- 
fairs of  ♦he  colony,  in  regard  to  the  land,  the  ditle- 
rent  posts  and  Indian  affairs;  taking  receipts  for  his 
discharge.  It  is  recommended  to  him  to  adbrd  such 
information,  relative  to  the  concerns  of  the  colony,  as 
may  enable  the  olficers  of  Spain  to  administer  its 
affairs  to  the  satisfaction  of  both  nations. 

Duplicate  invetitories  are  ordered  to  be  made  by 
the  director  general,  and  a  Spanish  commissary,  ol 
all  the  artillery,  goods,  magazines,  hospitals  and  ves- 
sels of  the  province;  so  that,  after  delivery,  an  ap- 
praisement may  be  made  of  such  articles  as  may  be 
kept  l)y  the  Spanish  king. 

The  hope  is  expressed  and  the  king  declares  he 
expects  it  tVom  the  friendship  of  the  monarch  of  Spain, 
that,  for  the  advantage  and  tratiquillity  of  the  inhabi- 
tants, orders  will  be  given  to  the  governor  and  other 
officers,  employed  in  Louisiana,  that  the  regular  and 
secular  clergy,  acting  as  curates  or  missionaries,  may 
be  allowed  to  continue  the  exercise  of  their  functions 
and  enjoy  the  rights,  privileges  and  exemptions,  gran, 
ted  to  them  by  the  royal  charters,  and  that  the  infe- 
rior judges,  as  well  as  those  of  the  superior  council, 
may  be  allowed  to  continue  to  administer  justice,  ac- 
'lording  to  the  present  laws,  forms,  and  usages  of  the 
colony,  that  the  inhabitants  may  be  confirmed  in  their 
estates  according  to  the  grants  of  the  former  gover- 
nors and  commissaries  ordonnateurs,  and  that  such 
grants  may  be  confirmed  by  tlie  Catholic  king,  even, 
when  they  were  not  so  by  him.  Finally,  the  king 
hopes  the  new  sovereign  will  give  to  his  subjects  in 


i 


I- 

I'. 


M9 


CHAPTER 


[17Cu 


Louisiana  such  marks  othis  protection  arul  favour,  as 
they  have  heretofore  experienced  turn  the  former,  of 
which,  nothi.ig   but    the  disasters  of  tiie  w  .i\  «'(.-iiii 
ave  prevented  them  Irom  enjoyiufi'  the  ilill  ( tllcl 

The  director  general  is  eiijoiiud  to  ciiuso  die 
royal  letter  to  be  transcribed  on  the  miiiuies  of  ij.c 
superior  council,  that  every  one  in  the  pro\i  cv  iir.y 
become  actfuaiiited  >vilh  its  contents,  and  recur 
thereto,  in  case  of  need. 

This  intelligence  plunged  the  inhabitants  in  great 
consternation.  They  bewailed  before  their  eslrange- 
niCiil  from  their  kindred  and  friends  in  the  enstt  rn 
p;irt  of  <h'^  provi'.ce;  t'lat  they  Here  aciw  th(i»i- 
selves  transferred  to  a  foreign  potentate,  hlled  tlr.ir 
mif'ds  with  the  utmost  sorrow. 

The  fond  hope  was  howeveriodulged  thai  their  ur.i- 
ted  solicitations  might  a  verting  tlieimpendinjr<'al:iiniiy. 
Every  parish  was  accordingly  invited  to  send  its  n*ost 
notnt.i*'  pUuUtrs.  to  a  general  meeting,  in  the  ci  )  of 
New  Orleans,  in  the  beginning  of  the  following  year. 

The  council,  according  to  its  new  orgauizalion.  on 
the  dismemberment  of  the  province,  was  compos- 
ed of  d'Abadie,  the  director  general,  Poucault,  the 
commissary  ordonnateur,  Aubry.  the  commandont 
of  the  troops,  Delalande,  Ker:iion,Delaunay,Lachaise, 
Lesassier,  Laplace,  councillors,  Lafreniere,  attorney 
generah  and  Garic,  clerk. 
'  The  general  meeting  was  attended  by  a  vast  num- 
ber of  the  most  respectable  planters  from  every  part 
of  the  province,  and  almost  every  person  ol'note  in 
New  Orleans.  The  most  prominent  characters  were 
Lat'reniere,  the  attorney  general,  Doucet.  a  lawyer, 
who  had  lately  come  Irom  France,  St.  Lette,  Pin, 
Villere,  the  chevalier  d'Arensbourg,  Jean  Milhet,  the 
wealthiest  mcrclutnt  of  New  Orleans,  Joseph  Milhet 
bis  brother,  St.  Maxent,  Lachaise,  Marquis,  Garic, 


[11(1  b 


1705] 


TIIR  FOURTEENTH 


3't*^ 


k'our.  as 
iner.  of 

i\  i'Olili 

Liso    (lie 

*  Ol     tiiC 

I    recur 

I!)  ji^rpat 

easlrrii 
V  tlupi- 
L'd   til  ir 

heir  uiii- 

^al  itniiy. 

its  rii<!st 

0  Ci  )   of 

igvear. 

ilioi].  on 

coinpos- 

ault,  the 

naiulniit 

lachaise, 

attorney 

ist  num- 
ery  part 
i'note  in 
ers  were 
lawyer, 
ite.  Pin, 
Ihct.the 
h  Milhet 
s,  Garic. 


Mazent,  Mazange,  Poupet,  Boisblanc,  Grandmaison, 
Lalaiide.  I^csassicr,  Brand,  the  kings  printer, 
Keruion,  Carrere  and  Des.dles. 

Ldireiiiorc  iddressed  the  meeting,  in  an  animated 
sp'^:^<'h,  whicli  he  coucludod  by  a  proposition  that  the 
sovereign  should  he  entreated  to  make  such  arrange- 
me.its.  willi  his  catholic  majesty,  as  might  prevent 
Louisiana  being  severed  from  the  parent  stock,  and 
thai  a  person  should  l)e  imtnediately  sent  to  France 
to  l:»y  the  petition  of  the  inhabitants  ol  the  province, 
at  ilie  toot  of  the  throne.  Without  a  dissenting 
vot'\  the  proposition  was  assented  to,  and  with  the 
li!v"  unanimity,  Jean  Milhet  was  selected  for  the  im- 
portatit  mission. 

Vt  this  period,  a  number  of  families  emigrated  to 
Louisiana  from  the  British  provinces,  principally  from 
the  banks  of  Roanoke  river,  in  North  Carolina,  and 
settled  above  Baton  Rouge :  this  was  the  beginning 
of  the  settlement,  which  was  afterwards  called  the  dis- 
trict of  Feliciana. 

Till  now  the  post  of  the  Illinois  remained  in  the 
possession  of  the  French,  and  St.  Ange,  the  comman- 
dant, continued  to  exercise  his  authority  over  it.  A 
proclamation  of  General  Gage,  the  commander  in 
chief  of  the  forces  of  the  king  of  Great  Britain  in 
North  America,  issued  at  New  \  ork  the  thirteenth 
of  Oeceml)er,  was  brought  to  ihe  post  early  in  the 
new  year,  by  captain  vSterling,  who  was  instructed  to 
receive  the  oath  of  allegiance  and  fidelity  of  the  in- 
habitants, to  their  new  sovereign. 

By  this  proclamation  they  were  informed  that  the 
taking  possession  of  their  country  by  the  king's  forces, 
although  delayed,  had  been  determined  on  ;  and  the 
sovereign  had  given  the  most  precise  and  effective 
orders,  that  his  new  Roman  Catholic  subjects  of  the 
Illinois  should  be  allowed  the   exercise  of  religious 


iii'it 


If 


IP 
i 


i 

a 


(I 


jM, 


.'J50 


CHAPTER 


[17G& 


worship,  according  to  the  rites  of  their  church,  in 
the  same  manner  as  the  Canadians — that  he  had 
agreed  that  the  French  inhahitants  and  others,  who 
had  heen  subjects  olthe  most  christian  kin^.  mi^lit 
retire  in  full  safety'  and  proceed,  where  they  |)U'ased; 
even  to  New  Orleans,  or  other  parts  ol  J^ouisiana, 
although  the  Spaniards  might  take  possession  olit; 
that  they  might  sell  thoir  estates  to  the  king's  subjects 
and  transport  themselves  and  their  eni-'cis,  witfiout 
any  otlier  restraint,  but  tliat  which  might  result  from 
civil  or  criminal  process.  The  rights  and  immunities 
of  British  subjects  were  promised  to  those  who  might 
chuse  to  stay,  but  they  were  required  to  take  an 
oath  of  allegiance  and  tidelity. 

The  coinmarider  in  chief  recommended  to  the  peo- 
ple to  demean  tliemselves  as  loyal  and  taithful  sub- 
jects, by  a  prudent  conduct  to  avoid  all  causes  of 
complaint,  and  to  act  in  concert  with  the  royal  forces 
on  their  arrival,  so  that  possession  might  be  taken  of 
every  settlement,  and  good  order  preserved  in  the 
country. 

Ci\  il  government,  being  established,  under  the  au- 
thority of  Great  Britain,  a  few  months  after  in  the  post, 
St.  Ange,  the  French  commandant  there,  crossed  the 
Mississippi,  with  a  number  of  his  countrymen,  who 
were  desirous  to  follow  the  white  flag,  and  laid  the 
foundation  of  the  town  of  St.  Louis,  which  with  that 
of  St.  Genevieve,  was  the  first  settlements  of  the 
country,  now  known  as  the  state  of  Missouri. 

The  province  laboured  under  great  difficulties,  on 
account  of  a  flood  of  depreciated  paper,  which,  inun- 
dating it,  annihilated  its  industry,  commerce  and 
agriculture.  So  sanguine  were  the  inhabitants  of  their 
appeal  to  the  throne,  that  they  instructed  their  emis- 
sary, after  having  accomplished  the  principal  object 
of  his  mission,  to  solicit  relief  in  this  respect. 


14t)5J 


THE  FOURTEENTH. 


.i6i 


|: 


Dc'strohan,  the  king's  treasurer,  and  a  number  of 
other  planters,  had  been  induced  by  tlie  success  of 
Duhrcuil,  in  inanufacturin<T  suf^jar,  to  erect  mills; 
moslof  these  establishments  were  below  New  Orleans 
and  on  (he  same  side  of  tiie  river.  Hitherto,  the  su- 
gar made  in  Louisiana  liad  been  all  consumed  in  the 
provi'ice.  This  year,  a  ship  was  laden  for  France 
with  this  article.  It  had  been  so  inartilicially  manu- 
factured, that  it  leaked  out  of  the  hosjsheads,  and  the 
ship  was  so  lightened  by  this  accident,  that  she  was 
very  near  upsetting. 

Milhet  saw,  at  Paris,  Bienville,  who  having  spent 
the  most  and  best  years  of  his  life  in  liouisiana,  and 
having  long  presided  over  its  concerns,  still  liplt  much 
interest  in  its  prosperity.  He  had  bewailed  its  dis- 
memberment, aiid  grieved  to  see  ihe  last  remnant  of 
it  transferred  to  Spain:  he  was  then  in  his  eighty-se- 
venth year,  having  first  landed  in  Louisiana  in  iiis 
twentieth.  He  attended  Milhet  to  the  Duke  de 
Choiseuil.  This  nobleman  received  the  representa- 
tive of  the  people  of  Louisiana,  with  marked  civility: 
but,  having  been  the  prime  mover  of  the  measures 
which  terminated  in  the  cession,  he  felt  more  inclina- 
tion to  thwart,  than  topronriOte,  his  views;  he  artfully 
prevented  Milhet's  access  to  the  king,  and  the  mission 
eritirely  failed. 

The  British  this  year  established  a  post  at  bayou 
Manshac,  the  south  westernmost  point  of  their  posses- 
sions in  North  America.  A  number  of  traders  had 
opened  stores  in  the  neighbourhood,  from  which  the 
planters  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Mississippi  obtained 
their  supplies,  and  where  they  found  a  sure  sale  lor 
every  thing  they  could  raise.  A  part  of  the  thirty- 
fourth  regiment  was  sent  to  garrison  the  post :  but,  in 
the  sunxmer,  the  appearance  pf  the  weather,  indu- 


I 


i 


ji 


!.iH 


if- 


■it 


h 


A 


>y2 


CIlAPTliU 


[176e 


cing  the  apprehension  it  n\ight  fall  a  victim  to  disease, 
it  was  removed  beyond  Nalchez. 

While'  the  peopk^  of  Louisiana  were  thus  distres- 
sed by  the  thought  of  being  severed  from  ttie  domin- 
ions of  France,  those  dissentions  prevniled  in  the  l^ri- 
tish  provinces  on  the  Atlantic,  wliich  about  tenyenrs 
after,  broke  asunder  the  political  ties  which  united 
them  to  the  mother  country.  On  the  twenty-tin h  of 
October,  commissioners  from  the  assemblies  ol  iViiMs- 
sachusetts,  Rhode  Island,  Connecticut,  N»'vv  York, 
New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Delaware,  Maryland  and 
South  Carolina,  met  in  the  city  of  New  York.  They 
published  a  declaration  of  .he  rights  and  grievances 
of  the  colonists — asserted  their  exclusive  riglit  to  tax 
themselves,  and  to  the  trial  by  jury,  une(|ui vocally 
expressing  the  attachment  of  the  colonists  to  the  mo- 
ther country.  They  recommended  to  tlje  several  co- 
lonies to  appoint  special  agents,  with  insiructioiis  to 
unite  their  utmost  endeavours,  in  soliciting  a  redress 
of  grievances. 

The  fall  was  extremely  sickly.  D'Abadie  died, 
and  the  supreme  command  of  the  province  devolved 
to  Aubry,  the  senior  military  officer. 

The  West  India  seas  were  at  this  time  greatly  in- 
fested by  pirates  ;  and  on  the  eleventh  of  March  1766, 
the  sensibility  of  the  inhabitants  of  New  Orleans  was 
much  excited  on  the  arrival  of  the  sloop  Fortune,  of 
that  port,  which  on  her  return  picked  up,  near  the  is- 
land of  Cuba,  a  small  boat,  in  which  madam  Desnoy- 
ers,  a  lady  of  St,  Domingo,  had  been  committed  to  the 
mercy  of  the  waves,  with  a  child,  a  sucking  babe, 
and  a  negro  woman,  by  a  pirate,  who  had  captured  a 
vessel  (in  which  she  was  going  from  the  Spanish  to 
the  French  part  of  St.  Domingo,)  and  had  murdered 
her  husband.  They  had  been  seven  days  ii>  the  boat 
when  they  were  taken  up%     She  was  received,  with 


>«*' 

m 


17661 


THE  FOURTEENTH. 


3&;) 


great  cordiality,  and  after  she  liad  spent  a  lew  moiitlis 
in  New  Orleans,  the  means  were  lurnislied  her  oi"  re- 
turning to  her  friends. 

Ahlioijgh  Jean  Milhet  had  informed  his  countrymen 
of  the  ill  success  of  his  mission,  they  still  flattered 
themselves  with  the  delusive  hope  that  the  cession 
miglit  he  rescinded  Upwards  of  two  years  had  now 
elapsed,  since  the  king  had  directed  d'Ahadie  to 
surrender  the  province  to  any  olRcer  who  sho  "J  come 
to  take  possession  of  it  for  the  king  of  Spain,  and  that 
monarch  did  not  appear  to  have  taken  any  measure 
to  obtain  it.  These  fond  hopes  vanished,  in  the  sum- 
mer, by  intelligence  from  Havana,  that  Don  Antonio 
de  Ulloa,  the  olficer  appointed  by  Charles  the  third 
to  the  government  of  Louisiana,  had  arrived  in  tiiat 
city  :  from  whence,  on  the  tenth  of  July,  he  addressed 
a  letter  to  the  superior  council  of  the  province,  ap- 
prising them,  that  having  been  honored  with  the 
king's  command  to  receive  possession  of  the  colony, 
he  would  soon  be  with  them  for  this  purpose,  and  ex- 
pressing his  hope  that  his  mission  might  afford  him  a 
favourable  opportunity,  of  rendering  them  and  the 
other  inhabitants  any  service  the}  might  require. 

Don  Antonio  was  known  in  the  republic  of  letters, 
as  an  able  mathematician,  who  had  accompanied  La 
Condamine,  Bourguet  and  Godin,  for  the  purpose  of 
determining  the  figure  of  the  earth,  under  the  equator. 

He  landed  at  New  Orleans,  in  the  fall,  with  two 
companies  of  infantry,  under  the  orders  of  Piernas. 
He  was  received  with  dumb  respect,  and  declined 
exhibiting  his  powers,  intimating  he  wished  to  delay 
receiving  possession  of  the  country,  until  such  imm- 
ber  of  the  Spanish  forces  arrived,  as  would  authorise 
the  departure  of  those  of  France. 

In  December,  the  British  re-occupied  the  post  at 
bayou  Manshac.     A  small  stockade  fort  was  built  by 

LOU.  I.  45 


'^1 


(! 

0 


.}6'1 


CIIAPTElt 


[17tJt> 


a  party  oi'ilio  twenty-first  rroriment ;  it  was  callotl  Fort 
Bute.  The  trade,  carried  on  in  this  iiei^lil)oiirhood^ 
at  Baton  Rouge  and  Natchez,  increased  considera- 
bly;  the  French  supplied  tluMHselves  with  goods  at 
those  places,  and  British  vessels  were  almost  contin- 
ually anchored,  or  (astened  to  the  trees,  a  litlle  above 
New  Orleans.  Guinea  negroes  were  now  introduced 
by  these  vessels,  or  brought  Irom  Pensacola  through 
lakes  Pontcihartrain  to  bayou  Manshac  and  Baton 
Rouge.  The  t'acilify,  thus  aflfbrded  to  French  plant- 
ers to  supply  themselves  with  slaves,  was  the  origin  of 
the  fortunes  of  many  of  them. 

Ulloa  visited  the  several  posts  of  the  province,  and 
spent  a  considerable  time  in  Natchitoches. 

According  to  a  census  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  pro- 
vince which  was  taken  tbis  year,  it  nppears  it  had  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  ninety-three  men,  lit  to 
be^ar  arms ;  one  thousand  and  fbrty-ibiir  marriagea- 
ble women ;  one  thousand  three  hundred  and  seventy 
five  boys,  and  one  thousand  two  hundred  and  tbrty 
four  girls;  in  all,  five  thousand  live  hundred  and  filty- 
six  white  individuals.  The  blacks  were  nearly  as 
numerous. 

This  year,  tbe  province  was  visited  by  a  disease, 
not  dissimilar  (o  that  now  known  as  the  yellow  fever. 
It  was  severely  felt  in  West  Florida,  where  a  number 
of  emigrants  had  lately  arrived.  Sixteen  families  of 
French  protestants,  transported  at  the  expense  of  the 
British  government  on  the  river  F^scambia,  consistmg 
of  sixty- tour  jiersons,  were  almost  entirely  swept  away 
by  the  dc!c  terious  sickness. 

Ullo.t,  in  the  following  year,  went  to  the  Balize  to 
await  the  arrival  of  a  Peruvian  lady,  the  marchioness 
of  Abrado,  who  landed  and  who.m  he  married,  soon  af- 
ter.    He  was  then  in  the  filty-first  year  of  his  age. 

Soon  after  Ids  return  to  New  Orleans,  he  received 


i  mi\ 


TlfE  FOURTEENTH. 


3blt 


a  considerable  roiiiforcement  of  troops  from  tlip  Ha- 
vana, and  although  again  pressed  to  publish  his  coin- 
mit>sion  and  take  formal  possession  of  the  country,  he 
persisted  in  delaying  this. 

He  sent  two  companies  to  build  a  lort,  on  the  left 
bank  of  the  Mississippi,  below  bayou  Manshac,  with- 
in four  hundred  yarils  of  Fort  Bute;  two  other  com- 
panies were  sent  on  the  same  service,  on  the  opposite 
side,  a  little  below  Natchez,  and  two  others  on  the 
left  side  of  Red  river,  on  an  eminence  between  Black 
river  and  the  Mississippi.  A  stronger  detachment 
was  sent  to  the  Illinois :  but  its  commanding  officer 
was  instructed  not  to  interfere  with  the  civil  concerns 
of  the  inhabitants,  who  continued  under  the  orders  of 
St.  Ange,  the  British  commandant  having  died. 

General  Phineas  Lyman,  contemplating  a  large  es- 
tablishment on  the  Ohio,  applied  to  parliament,  for 
an  extensive  grant  of  land.  He  enforced  the  propri- 
ety of  the  measure  by  the  argument  that  there  could 
be  but  little  danger  of  the  colonies  becoming  indepei> 
dent,  if  confined  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  the  in- 
habitants dispersed  over  the  country.  "A  period"  said 
he,  "will  no  doubt  arrive,  when  North  America  will 
no  longer  acknowledge  a  dependence  on  any  part  of 
Europe ;  but  it  seems  to  be  so  remote,  as  not  to  be  at 
present  an  object  of  rational  policy  or  human  preven- 
tion, and  it  will  be  made  still  more  so,  by  open- 
ing new  schemes  of  agriculture,  and  widening  the 
space  which  the  colonists  must  first  occupy. 

Jean  Milhet  now  returned  from  France ;  his  pro- 
tracted absence  had  kept  the  hopes  of  his  country- 
men alive,  and  when  his  presence  among  them,  put 
an  end  to  every  expectatation  from  his  mission,  they 
became  exasperated,  and  began  to  manifest  their  ill 
disposition  towards  Ulloa,  who,  although  he  continu- 
ed to  decline  an  official  recognition,  had  gained  a 


;! 


ili 


$d^ 


ClIAPTKIl 


[176ft 


poworfiil  inllnrrK  e  over  Anl>i'y,  wliirh  was  exercised 
to  the  injury  ol  some  of  tin?  coIoiuhIh. 

On  the  sevenU'enth  niul  eifijhteenlh  of  January, 
1708,  the  mo^t  intense  cold,  of  which  there  is  any  ic- 
meuilM'ance,  was  felt  in  Louisiiina.  The  river  was 
frozen  helore  New  Orleans  for  several  yards,  on  holli 
sides.  The  orange  trees  were  destroyed  throuj2;hout 
the  province. 

Partial  meetings  were  had  in  the  city  and  at  the 
German  coast,  hi  the  latter  place,  a  perlect  uaaniin- 
ity  prevailed.  Father  BarnidW;,  a  capuchin  mission- 
ary, who  wa>  curate  of  Ihat  parish,  took  an  active  part 
Avith  the  most  intluential  of  his  llock.  At  last,  I  he  peo- 
ple of  the  province  were  invited  to  a  geiieral  meet- 
ing at  New  Orleans,  to  which  every  parish  sent 
its  woalthietjt  plunUiH.  Lafreniere  was  again  the 
principal  speaker,  and  was  «uj>poitccl  hy  Jean  Mil- 
het,  Joseph  Milhct,  his  brother,  and  Doncet,  a 
lawyer,  lately  arrived  from  France.  The  proceed- 
ings terminated  by  the  subscription  of  a  petition  to 
the  superior  council  to  order  Ulloa  and  the  principal 
officers  of  the  Spanish  troops  away.  It  was  ciculated 
through  the  provint!e,  and  received  five  hundred  and 
fiity  res}>ectable  signatures.  The  printing  of  it  was 
authorised  by  the  ordonnateur,  and  it  was  circulated 
in  every  parish. 

The  French,  as  well  as  the  few  Spaniards  w  ho  had 
come  to  the  province,  blamed  the  obs€Hjuiousncss  of 
Aubry  towards  Ulloa.  They  believed  that  the  ibr- 
raer's  instructions  might  be,  occasionally  lo  consult 
the  latter,  but  they  thought  that  nothing  could  autho- 
rise the  subserviency  of  the  French  chief  to  a  Span- 
ish olKcer,  Avho  refused  to  avow  the  authority  with 
which  he  w  as  clothed. 

Lafreniere  having  introduced  the  petition  of  the 
inhabitants  to  the  council,  this  tribunal  which  was 


I*. 

I 


nan] 


w 


rilE  FOURTEENTH 


Jo; 


of  the 

1    W.IP 


greatly  under  the  inniirnce  of  Foucanlt,  thoordoimn- 
t(Mir.  tlirratt'iu'd  Ulloii  with  a  prosrcntion,  as  a  dis- 
tiirhcr  oflhc  pracc  of  the  province.  He  alle^efl  thai 
Aul»ry  had  p;i\en  him  privately  possession  of  the 
comilrv,  at  the  liali/e.  As  none  helieved  that  a  clan- 
destine aet,  even,  if  it  took  place,  could  authorise  any 
assumption  ofpowers,  his  declaration  was  considered 
as  a  p;i'oss  artifice  Auhry,  who  corrohorated  UlloaV 
assertion,  was  also  dishelieved.  lie  fell  into  contempt, 
and  I  lloa's  opposers  were  emboldened. 

The  colonists,  mistaking  their  wishes  for  their  be- 
lief, iiKlul;i;ed  the  hope  that,  as  the  taking  possession, 
by  the  olficers  of  Sp.iio  was  thus  protracted,  the  ca- 
tholic king  must  have  renounced  the  a(  ipiisition  of  the 
province.  Others  viewed  the  cession,  as  a  measure 
feigneil  for  state  purposes.  Yielding  to  these  delusi- 
ons, they  viewed  UlJoa  with  a  jealous  eye,  as  a  pcr- 
sonagf^.  who  abused  the  reasons  of  state,  which  they 
supposed  to  be  the  cause  of  his  coming  among  them. 
Conjectures  drawn  from  the  British  prints  and  from 
conversation  with  individuals  of  that  nation,  who  had 
come  to  New  (3rlcans,  on  their  way  to  Manshac,  Ba- 
ton Rouge  and  Natchez,  strengthened  their  beliel". 
The  public  agitation  for  a  while  subsided,  but  was  at 
last  roused,  by  a  rumour,  that  a  Spanish  armament, 
destined  for  Louisiana,  had  arrived  at  the  Havana. 

Frantic  and  distracted  by  these  alternate  impressi- 
ons of  hope  and  tiear,  some  of  the  popular  leaders  flat- 
tered themselves,  with  the  possibility  of  resistance, 
and  despatched  a  messenger  to  Governor  Elliot,  who 
had  succeeded  Johnson  at  Pensacola,  to  ascertain 
whetlier  the  support  of  the  government  of  West  Flori- 
da could  be  obtained.  The  governor  declared  him- 
self unwilling  to  aid  his  neighbours,  in  an  opposition 
to  a  king  in  amity  with  his  own.  It  was  said  he  trans- 
mitted the  message  he  had  received  to  Aubry.  who 


.15C 


CHAPTER. 


[17GP 


W: 


delivered  it  to  Ulloa,  and  that  the  latter  carried  it  to 
Madrid. 

Disappointed  at  this  attempt,  the  leaders  pressed 
the  consideration  of  the  petition  of  the  inhabitants, 
which  the  council  had  delayed  to  act  upon. 

It  had  been  subscribed  by  five  hundred  and  sixty 
of  the  most  respectable  inhabitants.    Lafreniere  sup- 
ported it  by  .an  eloqiient  speech,  in  which  he  adverted 
to  the  successful  opposition  of  the  British  American 
provinces  to  the  stamp  act,  and  drew  the  attention  of 
the  council  to  the  noble  conduct  of  the  people  ol  lUir- 
gundy,  in  1526,  when  summoned  by  Launoy,  iht' vice 
roy  of  Naples,  to  recognize  as  their  sovereign,  the 
emperor  Charles  the  fitih,  to  w  hom  Francis  the  se- 
cond hful  ceded  that  province,  by  the  treaty  of  Ma- 
drid.    The  states  and  courts  of  justice,  being  conve- 
ned to  deliberate  on  the  emperor'a  message,  unani- 
mously answered  that  the  province  was  a  part  of  the 
French  monarchy,  and  the  king  had  not  the  power  of 
alienating  it.     The  nobles  resolutely  declared,  that  if 
the  king  abandoned  them,  they  would  resort  to  arms, 
and  the  last  drop  of  their  blood  would  be  spilt  in  de- 
fence of  their  country. 

At  last,  on  the  29th  of  October,  it  was  taken  up,  and 
after  some  debate,  the  council  (notwithstanding  the 
opposition  and  protest  of  Aubry)  ordered  Ulloa  to 
produce  his  powers  from  the  king  of  Spain,  if  he  had 
any,  that  they  might  be  recorded  on  its  minutes,  and 
published  through  the  province,  or  depart  therefrom, 
within  one  month.  To  give  weight  to  the  requisition 
of  the  council,  about  six  hundred  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  city  and  German  coast  embodied  themselves. 

Ulloa  took  the  last  of  the  alternatives  proposed  to 
him,  and  was  soon  ready  to  depart ;  a  vessel  of  the 
king  of  Spain,  that  had  lately  arrived  afforded  him  aiji 
opportunity,  which  he  improved. 


ied  it  to 

pressed 
bitants, 

nd  sixty 
?re  sup- 
dverteJ 
merican 
sntion  of 
poi  }-'iir- 

ih'.'  vice 
.io-n.  the 
s  th*^  se- 
y  of  Ma- 
ig  conve- 
;e,  unani- 
irt  oi  the 

power  of 
ed,  that  if 
t  to  arms, 
pilt  in  de- 

n  up,  and 

iding  the 

UUoa  to 

f  he  had 
utes,  and 
herefrom, 

quisition 

jitants  of 

ves. 
Dposed  to 
sel  of  the 
ed  him  an 


17ei8J 


f^^ 


THE  FOURTEENTH. 


:i:>\' 


On  the  evening  of  one  of  the  first  days  of  Novem- 
ber, he  went  on  board  of  the  king's  vessel,  intending 
to  sail  early  in  the  morning.  The  torch  of  hymen  had 
been  Hghted  in  the  house  of  a  wealthy  merchant  in 
the  city ;  the  dance  was  protracted  till  the  morning  : 
a  number  of  the  planters,  who  had  come  to  the  city, 
had  joined  the  festive  banquet.  Wine  had  been  sent 
to  others,  whose  admission  the  great  number  of  the 
guests  in  the  house  had  prevented  from  attending.  At 
dawn,  all  parties  united,  and  elated  by  the  nightly  or- 
gie,  marched  to  the  levee,  hallooing  and  singing. 
Boats  were  procured:  no  apprehei^ion  being  enter- 
tained on  bond,  the  vessel  was  approached,  and  her 
cables  cut  asunder.  It  does  not  appear  any  attempt 
was  made  to  punish  the  instilt-  The  a  essel  was  at 
the  moment  ot  departure  and  floated  away. 

A  i'ew  dayri  a/icr,  a  general  meeting  off-ieputies  from 
every  parish,  was  convened  at  New  Orleans,  in  which 
it  was  determined  to  make  a  second  application,  to 
avert,  if  possible,  the  execution  of  the  treaty  of  cessi- 
on. This  service  was  confided  to  St.  Lette,  a  mer- 
chant of  Natchitoches,  and  Lesassier,  a  member  of  the 
superior  council. 

UUoa  proceeded  to  Havana,  where  he  immediate- 
ly embarked  for  Cadiz,  and  landed  after  a  passage 
liage  of  forty  days. 

The  Chevalier  Dessales,  who  sailed  with  him  from 
New  Orleans,  saw  at  Havana  Urissa,  the  former 
consul  of  Spjiin  at  Bourdeaux,  who  having  been  ap- 
pointed Intendant  of  Louisiana,  was  on  his  way  with 
eight  hundred  soldiers.  He  had  stopped  at  Ha- 
vana, to  take  in  one  million  of  dollars  for  the  king's 
service,  in  his  new  acquisition :  hearing  of  Ulloa's  ill 
success,  he  returned  to  Europe. 

In  December,  the  British  evacvated  and  demolish 
*»d  Fort  Bute. 


JUO 


CHAPTER 


[1769 


The  passage  of  the  deputies  of  the  people  of  Loui- 
siana was  not  so  expeditious  as  that  of  Ulloa  Tfiey 
were  three  months  on  the  wate".  The  complaint  of 
the  king  of  Spain  had  reached  the  court,  lotig  before 
their  arrival  at  Paris.  Bienville,  on  whose  aid  and 
services  they  much  relied,  was  now  dead,  and  the 
Duke  of  Choiseuil  still  in  power.  St.  Lette  had 
been  a  schoolmate  of  his.  The  Duke  received  his 
former  play  fellow  with  open  arms,  but  frowned  on 
the  deputy  and  his  colleague.  He  told  them  their  ap- 
plication was  too  tardy,  as  the  king  of  Spain  had  di- 
rected such  a  force  to  be  sent  to  New  Orleans,  as 
would  put  down  any  opposition  that  could  be  made. 
He  gave  St.  Lette  a  very  lucrative  office  in  the  East 
Indies,  and  Lcsassier  returned  home. 

The  deputies  had  been  iuotnirted  to  renew  the  re- 
presentation, which  Milhet  had  made  in  regard  to  the 
depreciatedpaper  currency,  which  inundated  the  pro- 
vince. They  obtained  an  arrest  of  the  king's  coun- 
cil of  the  twenty-third  of  March,  which  is  believed  to 
be  the  last  act  of  the  French  government  concerning 
Louisiana. 

It  provided  that  the  bills,  emitted  by  the  colonial 
government,  or  the  receipts  for  so  much  of  them,  as 
according  to  a  former  order  had  been  left  with  the 
treasurer,  should  be  reduced  to  three-fifths  of  their 
nominal  value. 

The  holders  of  these  bills  or  receipts  were  direct- 
ed to  bring  them,  before  the  first  of  September  fol- 
lowing,  to  Marignier,  who  was  authorised  to  give  there- 
for, (after  a  deduction  of  twe-fifths)  a  certificate 
bearing  interest  at  five  per  cent. 

Provision  was  made  for  cases,  in  which  there  had 
been  a  judicial  deposit. 

Shortly  after  the  return  of  Lesassier,  the  distress, 
which  the  accounts  he  brought  excited,  was  relieved 


[1769 


ITftSJ 


THE  FOURTEENTH. 


361 


pleofLoui- 

lloa      Tfiey 

omplaint  of 

long  before 

lose  aid   and 

ad,  and  the 

Lette  had 

eceived  his 

frowned  on 

Bin  their  ap- 

lain  had  di- 

Orleans,  as 

d  be  made. 

in  the  East 

'new  the  re- 
cgard  to  the 
ited  the  pro- 
sing's  coun- 
1  believed  to 
concerning 

the  colonial 
of  them,  as 
eft  with  the 
iths  of  their 

vere  direct- 
tember  fol- 
)  give  there- 
certificate 

h  there  had 

he  distress, 
as  relieved 


by  letters  from  Bordeaux,  intimating  that  theprovince 
was  to  continue  a  colony  of  Prance. 

But  on  the  twenty  third  of  July,intelligence  reached 
New  Orle-iMS  of  the  arrival  at  the  B-ihzeof  a  Spanish 
frigate,  with  twenty-eight  transports,  having  four  thou- 
sand five  hundred  soMiers  on  board,  and  a  large  sup- 
ply of  arms  and  ammu  lilion.  This  threw  the  town 
into  great  consternation  ;  resistance  was  spoken  of, 
and  messengers  were  despatched  up  the  coast. 

On  the  next  day,  an  express,  with  a  message  to 
Aubry,  from  Don  Alexander  O'lleilly,  the  command- 
er of  the  Spanish  forces,  landed  on  the  levee. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  city,  on  the  invitation  of  Au- 
bry,  met  him  in  the  church,  and  he  read  to  them  the 
message.  They  thus  learned  that  the  general  was 
sent  by  his  sovereign  to  tako  possession  of  the  colo- 
ny ;  but  not  to  distress  the  inhabitants;  that,  as  soon  as 
he  had  obtairied  possessioii,  he  would  publish  the  re- 
maining part  of  the  orders  of  his  royal  master;  but, 
should  any  attempt  be  made  to  oppose  his  landing, 
he  was  determined  not  to  depart,  till  he  had  put  his 
majesty's  commands  in  complete  execution. 

The  inhabitants  immediately  came  to  a  resolution 
to  chuse  three  gentlemen,  to  wait  i[i  their  behalf  on 
the  general,  and  irjjbrm  him  that  the  people  of  Loui. 
siana  were  determined  to  abandon  the  colony,  and 
had  no  other  favour  to  ask  from  him,  but  that  he  would 
allow  them  two  years,  to  remove  themselves  and  their 
effects. 

The  choice  of  the  meeting  fell  on  Grandmaison, 
the  town  major,  Lafreniere,  the  attorney  general,  and 
Mazent,  formerly  a  captain  in  the  colonial  troops, 
now  a  planter  of  considerable  wealth. 

O'Reilly  received  them  with  great  politeness,  and 
assured  them  he  would  cheerfully  comply  with  any 
reasonable  request  of  the  colonists;  that  he  had  their 

LOU.  h  46 


362 


CHAPTER 


[176G 


interest,  much  at  lieart,  and  nothing  on  his  part  should 
be  wanting  to  promote  it.  He  added  all  past  traos- 
actions  would  be  buried  in  oblivion,  and  all  who  had 
offended  should  be  forgiven,  and  said  every  thing, 
which  he  imagined  would  Hatter  the  minds  of  the  peo- 
ple. 

In  the  mean  while,  the  planters  of  the  German,  and 
some  of  the  Acadian,  coast  had  taken  arms,  and  a 
considerable  number  of  them,  headed  by  Villere, 
marched  down  to  the  city. 

The  deputation  reached  New  Orleans  on  the  first 
of  August,  and  made  public  the  kind  reception 
O'Keilly  had  given  them,  and  the  tair  promises  he  had 
made.  This  considerably  quieted  the  minds  of  the 
inhabitants,  and  many,  who  had  determined  on  an  im 
mediate  removal  from  the  province,  now  resolved  to 
reiurn  and  gather  their  crops. 

A  fortnight  elapsed  before  the  armament  reached 
tiie  city.  It  cast  anchor  before  it,  on  the  sixteenth; 
the  inhabitants  flocked  to  the  levee  on  the  foJlovAii.g 
day.  but  the  landing  did  not  take  place  till  the  eigh- 
leenth. 

At  three  o'clock,  in  the  afternoon  of  that  day,  the 
Spaniards  disembarked,  and  O'Reilly  led  his  men  to 
the  public  square,  belore  the  church,  in  the  middle  of 
the  city,  where  Aubry,  at  the  head  of  the  troops  of 
France  received  him ;  the  white  banner  flying  at  the 
top  of  a  high  mast,  in  the  middle  of  the  square.  It  was 
now  slowly  lowered,  while  that  of  Spain  was 
hoisted,  and  as  they  met  at  half  mast,  they  were  salu- 
ted by  a  fev-(le-joie  from  the  troops  of  both  nations. 
The  Fren<*h  flag  beinpr  lowered  and  the  Spanish  fly- 
ing on  the  top  of  the  mast,  O'Reilly,  attended  by  Au- 
bry and  Ibllowed  by  the  officers  of  both  nations,  wfio 
were  not  un<Jerarms.  perambulated  the  square,  in  to- 
ken of  his  being  in  possebsioii  of  the  colony.  His  suite 


^ 


[i76e 


1769J 


THE  FOURTEENTH. 


363 


art  should 
)ast  traiis- 
I  who  had 
ery  thing, 
[)fthe  peo- 

Tinan,  and 
rms,  and  a 
3y  Villere, 

30  the  first 
reception 
ises  he  had 
nds  of  the 
h1  on  an  im 
lesolved  to 

nt  reached 
3  sixteenth; 
?!  foJlovAii:g 
I  the  eigh- 

at  day,  the 
lis  men  to 

e  middle  of 
troops  of 
ring  at  the 
e.  It  was 
pain  was 
were  salu- 
th  nations, 
janish  fly- 
ed  by  Au- 

ations,  wfio 
nare,  in  to- 
His  suite 


then  followed  hira  to  the  church,  where  a  solemn 
Te  Deum  wa.'-  chaunted,  and  the  benediction  of  the 
host  given. 

Thus  ejided,  ahout  seventy  one  years  after  tlie  ar- 
rival of  Iberville,  the  government  of  France  in  Loui- 
siana :  and  thus  was  that  nation,  about  one  hundred 
and  sixty  years,  after  Champlain  laid  the  foundation 
of  Quebec,  the  oldest  town  of  French  origin  in  North 
America,  left  without  an  inch  of  ground  in  that  part 
of  the  continent. 

The  exports  ol  the  province,  during  the  last  year  of 
its  subjection  to  France,  were  as  follows : — 
In  Indigo  ....         $100,000 

"  Deer  skins,         ....       80,000 
"  Lumber,        ....  50,000 

"  Naval  stores,      ....        12,000 
«  Rice,  peas  and  beans,         .  .  .    4,000 

«  Tallow,  ....  4,000 

g250,000 

60,000 

360,000 

g  670.000 


An  interlope  trade,  with  the  Spanish 
colonies,  took  away  goods  worth. 

The  colonial  treasury  gave  bills  on 
government  in  France,  for 

So  that  the  province  afforded  means 
of  remitance  for 


Few  merchant  vessels  came  from  France;  but 
the  island  of  Hispaniola  carried  on  a  brisk  trade  with 
New  Orleans,  and  some  vessels  came  from  Martinico. 
King's  vessels  brought  whatever  was  necessary  for 
the  troops  and  goods  for  the  Indian  trade. 

The  indigo  of  Louisiana  was  greatly  inferior  to 
that  of  Hispaniola;  the  planters  being  quite  uubkilfuL 


364 


CHAPTER  THE  FOURTEENTH. 


[176f 


and  inattentive  in  the  manufacture  of  it :  that  of  pugar 
had  been  abandoned,  but  some  planters  near  ^ilew 
Orleans  raised  a  few  canes  lor  the  market. 


J^ergennes,  Hutchtns,  Jirchives,  Gazettes 


END  OF  VOL.  1 . 


[176f 

t  of pugar 
tiear  Mew 


